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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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Fraud email example:

From: "UNIVERSAL LOTTERY" <universalstakelottery_uk@msn.com>
Reply-To: payment_officeuniversalottery1@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 22:22:12 +0000
Subject: CONGRATULATION!! YOU' VE WON A LOTTERY

UNIVERSAL STAKE LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL
LONDON.12 BRIDGE STREET,
STAINES MIDDLESEX TW18 4TP UK

REF NUMBER: OSL/653/029/03
BATCH NUMBER: AT-040-SB06-03

DEAR SIR/MADAM,

SUBJECT:FOUR MILLION POUNDS LOTTERY WINNING

We are pleased to inform you, THAT AS A RESULT OF OUR RECENT Lottery
DRAWS HELD on the 10TH OF SEPTEMBER 2005. Your e-mail address attached to
ticket number 27522465896-532 with serial number 652-662 drew lucky numbers
7-14-18-23-31-45 which consequently won in the 2nd category. you have
therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of FOUR MILLION POUNDS.

Note that All participants in this lottery program have been selected
randomly through a computer ballot system drawn from over 20,000 companies
and 30,000,000 individual email addresses from all search engines and
websites. This promotional program takes place every year, and is promoted
and sponsored by eminent personalities like the Sultan of Brunei, bill gates
of microsoft inc and other corporate organisations. This is to encourage the
use of the internet and computers worldwide.

For security purpose and clarity, we advise that you keep your winning
information confidential until your claims have been processed and your
money remitted to you. This is part of our security protocol to avoid
double claims and unwarranted abuse of this program by some participants.

We look forward to your active participation in our next year 50 million
pounds slot.You are requested to contact our international payment
department office below to assist you with your winnings and subsequent
payments. all winnings must be claimed not later than one month After the
date of this notice.Please note, in order to avoid unnecessary delays and
complications,remember to quote your reference number and batch numbers in
all correspondence.Furthermore,should there be any change of address do
inform our payment department as soon as possible.

Congratulations on your award and and thank you for being part of our
promotional program.

NOTE: YOU ARE AUTOMATICALLY DISQUALIFIED IF YOU ARE BELOW 18 YEARS OF
AGE.

Sincerely yours,
Dr Joe Brown
(LOTTERY COORDINATOR)

NOTE:YOU ARE ADVICE TO CONTACT
MR JAMES WILLIAMS (PAYMENT OFFICER)
INTERNATIONAL PAYMENT DEPARTMENT UNIVERSAL LOTTERY.
FOR MORE DIRECTIVES ON HOW TO CLAIM YOUR WINNING.
EMAIL:payment_officeuniversalottery@yahoo.com
TEL:+44-7031840968 FAX:447092024855



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