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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: "Robert Van Gaal" <prizeclaims@europrizeawards.org>
Date: Thu, 08 Sep 2005 00:06:56 +0000
Subject: EUROPEAN PRIZE AWARD DEPT!!!!!CONGRATULATIONS!!!!WI!!!NNER

FROM: THE DIRECTOR
EUROPEAN PRIZE AWARD DEPT.
REF:EL3/9318/04
BATCH:
8/163/EL.

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Lottery
Winners
International programs held on the 15/3/2005. Your e-mail
address
attached
to ticket number :EL-23133 with serial number: EL-
123542,batch number:
EL-35,lottery ref number: EL-9318 and drew lucky
numbers 7-1-8-36-4-22
which
consequently won in the 1st category,
you
have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of
US$2,500,000.00
(Two Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States dollars).
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that
you keep your
winning
information confidential until your claims has
been processed and your
money
Remitted to you.
This is part of our
security protocol to avoid double claiming and
unwarranted abuse of
this program by some participants.
All participants were selected
through a computer ballot system drawn
from
over 40,000 company and
20,000,000 individual email addresses and names
from
all over the
world.
This promotional program takes place every year. This lottery
was
promoted
and sponsored by a group of successful electronic
dealers.
we hope with part of your winning,you will take part in our
next year
US$20
million international lottery.
To file for your claim,
please contact our paying officer:
Contact Person
Mr Eric Moore
FAX +31-
847-333-998
TEL +31-616-116-943
Email:transferstfbv@netscape.net
Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than 9th Of September
2005.
After this date all unclaimed funds will be included in the next
stake.
Please note in order to avoid unnecessary delays and
complications
please
remember to quote your reference number and batch
numbers in all
correspondence.
Furthermore, should there be any change
of address do inform our agent
as
soon as possible.
Congratulations
once more from our members of staff and thank you for
being
part of
our promotional program.
Note:Anybody under the age of 18 is
automatically disqualified.
Yours Sincerely,
DR ROBERT VAN GAAL.
EUROPEAN PRIZE AWARD DEPT
THE PROMOTION DIRECTOR.
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM
(NL)


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