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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "Pamela Gumez" <info_notification@msn.com>
Date: Mon, 26 Sep 2005 09:27:02 +0000
Subject: YOUR EMAIL WON THE LOTTERY

INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD
FREE LOTTO COMPANY
HOLLAND HEAD OFFICE
SNELLERWAARDGRACHT 12,
1107 EJ GAASPERDAM, AMSTERDAM,
HOLLAND.
Winner- REF/SERIAL NUMBER: LP/26510460037/03
BATCH: 24/00319/IPE
Sir/Madam,
AWARD NOTIFICATION

We are pleased to inform you of the announcement today 26/09/05 of your
selection as one of the ten winners of the promotional Free Lotto
Sweepstakes held recently as part of our EXPERIMENTAL BONANZA. You have
therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of 1,000,000.000USD.(One
Million Dollars.)

We in the Free Lottery Sweepstakes is by this program, Launching our model
computer balloting lottery draws, developed and designed to satisfy the
cravings of the ever-growing number of participants in our various lottery
programs. With funds accrued exclusively from previous draws, payouts to all
winners are guaranteed and will be transferred in record time.

After randomly selecting 15,000 participants from an initial database of
300,000 emails all participants were selected through a computer ballot
system from the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Canada, Europe, USA and South
America as part our International Promotions Program, which was conducted in
view of launching ourselves into the Sweepstakes Industry Worldwide and
zoning all participants by their respective continents from across the
globe, we produced an extensive list from which you have emerged as one of
the winners of the Grand Draw prize.

When this programme takes place, email addresses of unknown
individuals(ghost participants) are drawn from all over the world. Their
email addresses are attached to certain numbers. If by chance, a certain
email address(with numbers attached) tallies with some lucky numbers, email
confirmation is being sent to the owners of those addresses. The winnings
addresses are selected with the help of a complicated electronic email
balloting system as earlier stated.

Your funds are now deposited with the Bank and Security Service. You are to
contact our Legal adviser (to free lotto company) by email, phone call or
fax within a week of receiving this notice. Please find full contact details
below:

SMITH LAW FIRM NL
Advocate Mr. Van Der Gooi
Advocate Mrs. G.F Saskia
Dr. Edward Makad
Advocate Brandy Daniels
Email: smthmchllaw@netscape.net
Tel: Tel:+31-647-218-541 Fax: +31-847-556-223

In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to
quote your reference and batch numbers in every one of your correspondences
with your claims agent

REF: LP/26510460037/03
BATCH: 24/00319/IPE
Zonal Draw No: HLA2-003
Ticket number 004-5117963-198,
Lucky numbers 05-07-11-12-13-27

1.Winners should send to claim officer account detailed address where they
want their prize paid or sent.
2.Winners must send their names, address, telephone number and means of
identification (international passport or drivers license)to claim officer,
via email or fax, to process the immediate payment of your prize.

Congratulations once again.

Yours sincerely,
Mrs. Pamela Gumez
The Promotions Manager,


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