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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: "United Group" <unitedgroup1@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 20 Sep 2005 09:50:44 -0700
Subject: WINNING NOTICE...CONGRATULATIONS!!!

WINNING NOTICE...CONGRATULATIONS!!!

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
UNITED-GROUP UK E-MAIL LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL
PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPT

BATCH NO: UGUK/31211214257/190888/2202
REF. NO: UGUK/21449267220/255100//2202

WINNING NOTIFICATION/FINAL NOTICE...CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

This is to inform you of the release of the E-MAIL LOTTERY
BALLOT INTERNATIONAL/WORLD GAMING BOARD LOTTERY results.
Your name attached to ticket number 219028657434 with Serial
number 918735625 drew the lucky numbers of 21-70-81-82-99,
which consequently won the lottery in the 1st category.

You have therefore been approved for a lump sum payment of
US$5,000,000.00 only, which is deposited with a Security Company
in your favor as beneficiary and covered with a HIGH INSURANCE
POLICY. It is important that you keep your winning confidential to
avoid people garnering your information and subsequently making
claimS with your winning information. United-Group UK Lottery
International will decline payment if such irregularity
occurs.

All participants were selected through a computer ballot
system drawn from only Microsoft users from over 20,000.00
companies and 3,000,000.00 individual email addresses and
names from all over the world. To begin your lottery claim,
please contact our agent below that has been appointed for
the processing of your claim with your contact telephone
and fax number to begin the processing of your payment.

CONTACT NAME: MIKE OWENS.
CITY/COUNTRY: LONDON, ENGLAND.
TELEPHONE: +44-704-010-4563.
FAX: +44-870-136-7447.
EMAIL: agentmikeowens@netscape.net

It is imperative that you contact your assigned payment
officer within two weeks of receipt of this missive via the
aforementioned details conveyed herein. After this date all
unclaimed funds will be included in subsequent promos.
Please note in order to avoid preventable delays and
complications please remember to quote your reference
number and batch numbers in all correspondences.

Furthermore, should there be any change in your 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.

Yours Sincerely,

Mr. Jack Norwich,
Vice President,
United-Group UK Lottery International.


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