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

Fraud email example:

From: EUROMILLIONAWARD <euromillionaward@casinomail.com>
Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2005 15:24:13 +0200
Subject: ACKNOWLEDGE


EURO MILLION LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL
CALLE MOSTOLES 23C PISO 6G 28923 MADRID ESPANA.
DATE: OCTOBER 17TH, 2005.
FROM:THE DESK OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE
AWARD...BATCH: EGGS-01-34-PTI
REFERENCE: 23/14/DH
AWARD NOTIFICATION.
This is to inform you on the release of the EURO MILLION INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY
held on the 4th of August 2005.The results was released on october 1st 2005.Your email
address was attached to ticket number 321-554-075-495 with serial number 321-570-160-006 that drew the lucky numbers of 00-87-85-69-89, which consequently won the lottery in the 1st category.
You have therefore been awarded a lump of 1,000,000.00(ONE MILLION EURO ONLY) cash credited to file with REF: Nº EGS/774/161/888 This is from €10,000,000.00 (TEN MILLION EURO) in cash among the 100 participants finalist playing 100 full tickets in which 10 winners was selected.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Your fund is now deposited with Santa Lucia Security Company and insured in your email address.
Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep this award from public notice until
your claims have been processed and the money remitted to your account.
This is part of our security protocol to avoid problems from participants as it has happened in the past.
All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn
from 25,000 names
from Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, North and South America, Middle East and Africa .
This programme is sponsored by EUROPEAN UNION/MICROSOFT WORD TO PROMOTE and ENHANCE the use of SOFT WARE IN THE GOBAL WORLD.
We hope your lucky name will draw a bigger cash prize in the subsequent programs. To begin your lottery claims, please contact your claims agent:
DR LUIS WALTERS
Tel 00 34 699591286
santa2005lotto@netscape.net
you are required to present your information of identity to prove you are the user of this email address, either your
country passport or any other valid identity is required.
Remember, all winnings must be processed not later than two weeks from the day you receive this notification.
Any requirement not made before this date will be returned to theEUROPEAN UNION MINISTRY OF FINANCE HEADQUATERS.
Also be informed that 10% of your lottery winning belongs to the security company because they are the company assigned by the European Union to process your winnings to you.
NOTE this 10% will be collected after you have received your winning prize because the money is insured in your name i.e email address already.
Remember to quote your reference and batch numbers ( BATCH:EGGS-01-34-PTI REFERENCE: 23/14/DH) in every of your response to your claim agent.
Further more, 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 you by your claim agent, DR LUIS WALTERS.
Once again from all members of our staff CONGRATULATIONS for being a part of our International promotions program.
NOTE:winners below eighteen years ( -18yrs ) are disqualified from this programme.
We wish you good fortunes.
Sincerely,
MRS, ANN COKER

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