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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: "DE LOTTO NETHERLAND" <netherlandlotto@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: contact_agent-vpaul@excite.com
Date: Fri, 23 Sep 2005 08:41:34 +0000
Subject: HURRAY:YOU ARE A WINNER!

FROM: GOVERNMENT ACCREDITED LICENSED LOTTERY
PROMOTERS. WINNING NOTICE FOR CATEGORY "A" WINNER
Dear Lucky Winner,

RE: BONUS LOTTERY PROMOTION PRIZE AWARDS WINNING
NOTIFICATION

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the just concluded annual
Final draws of De Lotto Netherlands International Lottery programs.

The online cyber lotto draws was conducted from an exclusive list of
25,000 e-mail addresses of individual and corporate bodies picked by an
Advanced automated random computer search from the internet. No tickets
Were sold. After this automated computer ballot, your e-mail address
Emerged as one of two winners in the category "A" with the following:

Ref Number: 35149/337-5247/LNI
Batch Number: 26371545-LNI/2005
Ticket Number: 54866235

You as well as the other winner are therefore to Receive a cash prize of
1,500.00. (ONE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND EUROS ONLY)

Your prize award has been insured with your e-mail address and will be
Transferred to you upon meeting our requirements, statutory obligations,
verifications, validations and satisfactory report.

To begin the claims processing of your prize winnings you are advised
To contact our licensed and accredited claims agent for category "A"
Winners with the information below:

Mr. Robot Van Paul
Financial Director,
Netherlands Development Finance Company,
De Amsterdam
Poort Bijlmerplein
888 1102 MG Amsterdam
1000 BV Amsterdam
E-mail:contact_agent-vpaul@excite.com
Phone: +31-649-208-996

NOTE: All winnings must be claimed not later than 15 days. After this
Date all unclaimed funds would be included in the next stake. Remember
To quote your reference information in all correspondence.

You are to keep all lotto information away from the
General public especially your reference and ticket numbers. (This is
Important as a case of double claims will not be entertained).

Anybody under the age of 18 and members of the affiliate agencies are
Automatically not allowed to participate in this program.

Thank you and congratulations!!!

Yours faithfully,

Mrs. Caroline Smith
Games/Lottery Coordinator.
De Lotto Netherlands International


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