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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: "Adams Genevive Smitch" <adams_1001@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: genevismitch@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Sat, 15 Oct 2005 14:21:52 +0000
Subject: CONGRATULATION YOU HAVE WON

Date:14/10/2005
Ref: 564062826
Batch: 8067492802/188
Winning no: UC6411/LPRC
CONGRATULATIONS
Dear Sir/Madam,
We are delighted to inform you of your prize release on the 10th of
OCTOMBER,2005 from the Universal Lottery programme which is fully based on
an electronic selection of winners using their e-mail addresses.Your name
was attached to ticket number; 564062826, 8067492802 serial number
89413237112 .This batch draws the lucky numbers as follows
4-13-55-48-34bonus number 17,which consequently won the lottery in the
second category. You hereby have been approved a lump sum pay of
US$1,000,000.00 (ONE MILLIONDOLLARS) in cash credit file ref: ILP/HW
47509/02 from the total cash prize ofUS$8,000,000.00 shared amongst eight
lucky winners in this category.

All participant were selected through a computer balloting system drawn
form. Nine hundred thousand E-mail addresses from Canada, Australia, United
States, Asia, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Oceania as part of our
international promotions program which is conducted annually. This Lottery
was promoted and sponsored by a conglomorate of some multinational companies
as part of their social responsibility to the citizens in thecommmunities
where they have operational base.

Further more your details(e-mail address) falls within our European
representative office in London, as indicated in your play coupon and your
prize of US$1,000,000.00 will be released to you from this regional branch
office in London. We hope with part of your prize, you will participate in
our end of year high stakes for US$1.3 Billion international draw. HOW TO
CLAIM YOUR PRIZE: Simply contact our office UNIVERSAL LOTTO UK via this
email address: universallottowinning@yahoo.co.uk to file for your claim .
Please quote your reference, batch and winning number which can be found on
the top left corner of this notification as well as your full name, address
and telephone number to help locate your file easily. For security reasons,
we advice all winners to keep this information confidential from the public
until your claim is processed and your prize released to you.

This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and
unwarranted taking advantage of this programme by non-participant or
unofficial personnel. Note, all winnings MUST be claimed by 25th of october,
2005; otherwise all funds will be returned as Unclaimed and eventually
donated to charity . Congratulations once again on your winnings!!!
Best Regards, Carol Smith(co-ordinator)

PLEASE DO REPLY TO THIS EMAIL.CONTACT FOR YOUR CLAIMS ANY BREACH OF RULES
ON THE PART OF THE WINNERS
WILL RESULT TO DISQUALIFICATION

Adams Genevive Smitch
for: UNIVERSAL LOTTO UK:



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