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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.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Yoanis Alex" <yoanisalex4@msn.com>
Date: Fri, 07 Oct 2005 13:27:02 +0000
Subject: CATEGORY .A. GRAND PRIZE WINNER

EXCEL LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL B.V
Stuvenberg Straat, 15a
2892, Antwerpen - Belgium
DATE: 7th, October 2005

FROM: THE DESK OF THE VICE PRESIDENT.
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD..
BATCH: EGGS-286-962-913: REFERENCE: 8772/2731/1PD
ATTENTION:

RE: AWARD NOTIFICATION.
This is to inform you of the release of the Excel lottery held on the 26th
of September 2005. The results were released on the 2nd October , 2005. Your
email address was attached to ticket number 271-956-987-532 with serial
number 232-215-978-421 that drew the lucky numbers of 822-732-591-901-921,
which consequently won the lottery in the 1ST category.

You are therefore been approved for a lump sum of payment of Dollars
$750,000.00 (SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS), in cash credited to
file with REF:Nº.EGS/212/782/214/321. This is from US $75,000,000.00
(SEVENTY FIVE MILLION US DOLLARS) in cash among the 16 participating
finalist playing 6,000 full tickets.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Your fund is now deposited with our Security Company and insured in your
name. Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep this
award from public notice untill your claims has been processed and the
money remitted to your account as this is part of our
security protocol to avoid double claiming of unwarranted taking advantage
of this program by participants as it has happened in the past.

All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from
26,000 names from Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, North and South
America, Middle East and Africa as part of our International Promotions
Program. We hope your lucky name will draw a bigger cash
prize in the subsequent programs. To begin your lottery claims , please
contact our foreign service manager

MR:PATRICK FOSTER
Email Address:patrickfos2000@netscape.net
Telephone:0032-496-708-554

Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later than two weeks from the
day you receive this notification. Any claim not made before this date will
be returned to our suspence account. And also be informed that 2% of your
lottery winning belongs to your agent because they are the company that
bought your ticket and played the lottery on your name, NOTE this 2% will
be
remitted. After you have received your winnings prize because the money is
insured in your name already.

NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please
remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in every correspondence
with us or your claim agent. furthermore, should there be any change of
address, please do inform your claim agent as soon as possible.

A copy of your lucky winning ticket and your deposit
certificate will be sent to OUR foreign service manager MR,PATRICK FOSTER.

CONGRATULATION!!!!!
Once again from all members of our staff and thank you for being a part of
our International promotions program. we wish you continued good fortunes.

Sincerely yours,

Mrs, Yoanis Alex.
LOTTERY CO,ORDINATOR


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