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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: "Susan Campbell" <autoemaillotto@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 01 Sep 2005 22:46:27 +0000
Subject: 2005 AWARD WINNING NOTIFICATION.

AUTOMATED EMAIL LOTTERY PROGRAM
WATFORD,
UNITED KINGDOM.


REFERENCE NUMBER: ALP/653/029/05
BATCH NUMBER: AT-040-SB06-03


Dear Beneficiary,

We are pleased to announce the results of the draws of the Automated Email
Lottery Program held on 30th August,2005 in Watford,United Kingdom.Your
email address attached to Serial Number 2-562-765 drew the lucky numbers
9-14-8-10-3-12 which consequently won in the 2nd Category.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of $1,200,000(One
Million,Two Hundred Thousand United States Dollars.) All participants for
this year's program were selected randomly through a computer ballot system
drawn from 15,000,000 email addresses from search engines and websites
spanning across Australia,New Zealand, America,Europe, North America, Africa
and Asia.This Promotional Lottery Program is conducted annually to create
the awareness and encourage the use of computers and the internet
worldwide.This program is being promoted and sponsored by some eminent
personalities like Bill Gates of Microsoft Incooperation,Micheal Dell of
Dell Computers,the Sultan of Brunei and a host of some philantropic
organisations.

To file your claim, please contact your Claims Agent:

Name: Mr.Jim Wang
Email: lottery.winnings@gmail.com


Due to regulations and privacy policy, we ask that you keep your winning
information confidential until you complete the process of filing for your
claim. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and
impersonation. Remember, all prize monies MUST be claimed not later than
30th September,2005. After this date, all prize monies will be returned as
unclaimed. You are thereby encouraged to file your claim without any delays.


NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please
remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in all of your
correspondences with your claim agent.Winners below 18 years of age are
automatically disqualified from processing their claims.

Furthermore,should there be any change of your address, do inform your
claims agent as soon as possible.

Congratulations once again from all our staffs.

Sincerely,

Susan Campbell

Program Director,
Automated Email Lottery Program.


Anti-fraud resources: