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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: "Island Paradise" <info@islandparadiseworld.net>
Date: Wed, 31 Aug 2005 12:38:37 +0000
Subject: FROM I.P.L CONGRATULATIONS!

ISLAND PARADISE LOTTERY
Paradise Office
2 Quay Terrace,
Ramsey,
Isle of Man,
LM8 1BF.

PROMOTIONS MANAGER,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT,REF NUMBER: PL-IOM/2W2 BATCH
NO: 2005/6-05/OBN.

ATTENTION: WINNER

We are pleased to inform you of the announcement of 29th Aug 2005, of
winners of the PARADISE LOTTO held on the 16Th of MAY, 2005 as part of our
yearly bonanza. Your email, attached to ticket number 654-7002-0, with
serial number 24086-104 drew the lucky numbers 3-4-81-11-19-11, and
consequently won the lottery in category B. You have therefore been approved
for a lump sum pay of £2,000,000 in cash credited to file REF: PL-IOM/2W2

This is from total prize money of £14,000,000 shared among 7 winners in this
category. All participants were selected through a computer balloting system
drawn from 200,000 emails from Middle East, Asia, Africa, Canada, Europe and
North America and Oceania as part our International Promotions Program,
which is conducted annually.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Due to the mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep this award
strictly from public notice until your claim has been processed and your
money remitted to your account. This is part of our ecurity protocol to
avoid double claiming or unscrupulous acts by participants of this program.
We hope with a part of your prize, you will participate in our 2006 high
stakes nternational Draw. For due processing and remittance of your prize
money to a designated account of your choice, please contact:

CLAIMS AGENT

MR. ADRAIN THOMAS
Email: claimsthomas@uku.co.uk cc adrainth2@plasa.com

NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please
remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in every one of your
correspondences with your claims agent. Furthermore, should there be any
change of your address, do inform your claims agent as soon as possible.

Congratulations again from all our staff and thank you for being part of our
promotions program.
Sincerely,

Ms. Kissack D R (promodept@paradiselotto.org)
The Promotions Manager,
ISLAND PARADISE LOTTERY

N.B. Any breach of confidentiality on the part of the winners will result to
disqualification. Please do not reply to this mail. Contact your claims
agent.



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