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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: zenithlotinc@handbag.com
Date: Wed, 31 Aug 2005 04:02:55 -0700
Subject: RE: WINNING NOTIFICATION/FINAL NOTICE.

ZENITH LOTTERY INC,
FROM THE DESK OF THE DIRECTOR,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION/PRIZE AWARD DEPT.

REF: ZL/2457812368/05
BATCH: 014/08/05/ZLINC

RE: WINNING NOTIFICATION/FINAL NOTICE.

We are pleased to inform you of the release today the 31st of August 2005,
of the Zenith lottery International program held on the 29th of August 2005.
Your personal or company email address attached to ticket number 954-85421856-329
with serial number 6327-77 drew lucky numbers 2-4-9-11-17-21 which consequently
won the lotto in the First category.

You have therefore been approved for a lump sum payout of 750,000 Euro (Seven
Hundred and Fifty Thousand Euro) in cash credited to file Ref.No ZL/2457812368/05.
This is from a total cash prize of $20 Million Euros shared among several
international lucky winners in this category.

CONGRATULATIONS. Your fund is now deposited with Equity Finance Bvba to
your name and due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep
this winning private from public notice until your claim has been processed
and your money remitted to your designated account.

This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claim and unwarranted
taking advantage of this program by participants. All participants were selected
through a computer ballot system drawn from over 500,000 companies and individual
email addresses from all over the world as part of our international promotions
program, which takes place once in every year.

Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than 15th of September 2005.
After this date all unclaimed fund will be returned to the pool as unclaimed
and included in the next stake. To file for your claim, please contact our/your
fiducially agent,

MR. ENRICO DE GROOT of the,
EQUITY FINANCE BVBA
E-Mail: equityfinbv@netscape.net

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

Anybody under the age of 18 years is automatically disqualified. Congratulations
once more from our members of staff and thank you for being part of our promotional
program.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Sandra Van Bosch.
(Lottery Director)

__________________________________________________________________
1Mb Tiscali Broadband for £14.99.
Offer ends 30th June 2005
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__________________________________________________________________
1Mb Tiscali Broadband for £14.99.
Offer ends 30th June 2005
http://www.tiscali.co.uk/products/broadband


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