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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: "Paul Smith" <mel_lotto@msn.com>
Date: Fri, 21 Oct 2005 12:10:44 +0000
Subject: YOU HAVE WON!!!




ROYAL INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY BV
GRUNDER 107
2340 VC MIJTENSTAAT
Den Haag,
The Netherlands.


ATTN:

We are pleased to inform you of the announcement today 21th of October, 2005
of winners of the ROYAL PROMOTION LOTTERY NETHERLANDS /INTERNATIONAL,
PROGRAMS held on 15th of October 2005. Your email address attached to ticket
number 21-134551314, drew the lucky numbers 11-10-22-13, batch number
6709/NL and consequently won the lottery in the 1st category. You have
therefore been approved of a lump sum pay out of (?1,000,OOO:00)ONE MILLION
EURO ONLY in credited to file LOTTERY REF NO. SGIL/312246 This is from total
prize money of EURO ?30,000,000.00 shared among the seventeen international
winners in categories A with serial number: RO/PR/11-C0225201. All
participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn form
15,000 company email addresses and 30,000,000 individual email addresses
from Australia,Africa, New Zealand, America, Europe, North America and Asia
as part of International Promotions Program, which is conducted annually.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Your fund is now in custody of a Security company insured in your FILE
REFERENCE. Due to the mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep
this award strictly from public notice until your Claim has been processed
and your money remitted to your account.This is part of our security
protocol to avoid double claiming or unscrupulous acts by participants of
this program. This lottery program was promoted by our group of
philanthropist headed by the Netherlands Government. We hope with a part of
you prize, you Will participate in our end of year high stakes
(?5,000,000.00) Five Million Euro, International Lottery. To begin your
claim, please contact your file/claim Officer:

MR. BARRY HOOK
FOREIGN SERVICE MANAGER
DEN HAAG,
THE NETHERLANDS
TEL:+31-612-283-855
EMAIL:royallotter@netscape.net

Please be informed that NON RESIDENCE of THE NETHERLANDS will be required to
make a NON DEDUCTABLE advance payment of processment and legal documentation
charges of (?998 .10 Cent) Nine Hundred And Ninety Eight Euro Ten Cent, to
enable our legal department acquire Notorisation papers from the Court prior
to award payment policy as required by the paying Securiry Company. Please
be aware that your Paying Authority will Effect Payment Swiftly upon
satisfactory Report, Verifications and validation provided by our Processing
Agent; that would be designated to your file. For due processment and
remittance of your winning prize to your designated account of your choice.

Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later than 31th of October
2005. After this date, all funds will be returned as unclaimed. NOTE: 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 agent. Furthermore, should there be any change of your address, do
inform your claims agent as soon as possible. Congratulations once again
from our team of staff and thank you for being part of our promotional
program. Note: Anybody under the age of 18 is AUTOMATICALY DISQUALIFIED. And
batch numbers in every one of your correspondences with your agent.
Furthermore, should there be any change of your address, do inform your
claims agent as soon as possible. Congratulations once again from our team
of staff and thank you for being part of our promotional program. Note:
Anybody under the age of 18 is AUTOMATICALYDISQUALIFIED.

Yours sincerely,

Mrs. Irena Van De Boer
(Lottery Coordinator)


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