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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

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Fraud email example:

From: "Micro Lottery int'l" <miclottlintppjwdf@netscape.net>
Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2005 10:36:00 -0800
Subject: Winning Notification

MICRO LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL - PROMOTIONAL PROGRAM
ADDRESS: DAALWIJK 813, 1102 AA, AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS.
REF: MLTI/PP2005-001
BATCH: 5300/P25/AX

Attn: Winner

RE AWARD NOTIFICATION / PROCESSING ADVICE: MLTI

Congratulations to you as we bring to your notice, the results of the Category "A" draws of MICRO LOTTERY Program.
We are happy to inform you that you have emerged a winner under the First Category, which is part of our promotional draws.
The draws were held on the 15th August 2005. Participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from
4,000,000 names/email addresses of individuals and companies from Africa, America, Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, Middle East,
and New Zealand as part of our International Promotions Program. You/Your Company, attached to ticket number 05-765204AC,
with serial number 90-77 drew the lucky numbers 2, 1, 20, 39 and consequently won in the Category "A".
You have therefore been awarded a lump sum pay out of $1,500,000 (0NE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATE DOLLARS)
in cash, which is the winning payout for Category "A" winners. This is from the total prize shared among the 5 international winners in this category.

Your funds are now deposited with a reputable finance firm in the Netherlands Insured with your FILE REFERENCE number, REF: MLTI/PP2005-001.
In your best interest and also to avoid mix up of numbers and names of any kind, we request that you keep the entire details
of your award strictly from public notice until the process of transferring your claims has been completed, and your funds remitted to your account.
This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming or unscrupulous acts by participants/nonparticipants of this program.
This lottery program was organized by our group of philanthropist promoted and sponsored by Mr. Bill Gates of Microsoft Inc,
eminent personalities like the sultan of Brunei, Multi Choice and other corporate Organizations. This lottery program was organized to improving the use of
computer software and for the benefit of every Microsoft user.
To begin your claim, please contact your file processing officer.

Mr. Frank Ruben,
OF MICRO LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL
Email: microlottery01nl@netscape.net
Email: microlottery01nl@euromail.net
Tel: +31 624 478 646

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