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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: "Instant Win" <instantwin08@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 21 Sep 2005 08:43:24 +0000
Subject: EMAIL LOTTERY NEWS!!!

SUPERBAL E-MAIL LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL
PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPT.
AMSTERDAM THE NETHERLANDS.
WINNING NOTIFICATION / FINAL

BATCH NO: BALL/23-44-11-17-21-3
REF. NO: BALL/9-20-2-22-1-33

NOTICE...CONGRATULATIONS!!!

This is to inform you of the release of the E-MAIL
LOTTERY BALLOT INTERNATIONAL/ SUPERBAL LOTTERY NL, held
on the 7th of September, 2005. Due to the mix up of
numbers,the results were released on the 21th of
September 2005. Your email attached to ticket number
20/37/49/70/ with serial number (60)(59)(30)(70)(45)
drew the
lucky numbers of 37-86-83-96-33 which consequently won
the lottery in the 1st category.

You have therefore been approved for a lump sum payout
Of (1,000,000.00) One million euros only in cash.

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 only Microsoft users from
over 20,000.00 companies and 3,000,000 individual
email addresses and names from all over the world. To
begin your lottery claim, please contact our agent
below that have been appointed for the processing of
your claim with the email address below, to begin the
processing of your claim:

CONTACT NAME: AMBASSADEUR, JOHAN CRUIJFF.
CITY/ COUNTRY: AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS
FREE SERVICE NUMBER: 0031-649-214-974
FAX NUMBER:0031-847-161-309
EMAIL: superballoterij@netscape.net

Note that all winning must be claimed not later than
7th of October 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,

MR. P. NEUTEBOOM


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