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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: "Mary Stewart" <ukleedspromotions112@msn.com>
Date: Thu, 10 Nov 2005 23:28:17 +0000
Subject: **WINNING NOTIFICATION**

LEEDS PROMOTIONS
Airport Hale Rd Halebarns
Altrincham Cheshire WA15 8XW UK

Batch No: WD18/0065/04RN
Our Ref: UKNL/255457004/04


TO WINNERS IN OUR PROGRAM

We wish to congratulate you over your success in our computer balloting
sweepstake held on 8th November 2005.
This is a millennium scientific computer game in which email addresses
were
used. It is a promotional program aimed at encouraging internet
users;therefore you do not need to buy ticket to enter for the game.
However, your
email address was attached to ticket number 034-22478556 with serial
number
129 draw the lucky numbers 06-09-13-15-40-43-02, which eventually won
the
lottery in the first category of the draws. Therefore, you have won a
lottery jackpot prize awards of £1,500,000.00 (one million five hundred
thousand pounds Sterling Only) This is from total prize money of
US$30,000,000.00 distributed to winners from 1st to 3rd categories.

Note that this program was largely promoted and sponsored by a group of
philanthropist, industrialists from the internet ware industry and some
other big multinational firms who wish to be anonymous.
You may wish to establish contact via e-mail with the particulars
presented
below citing the batch and reference numbers to this letter. Telephone
lines are open between the hours of 8.00am - 7.30pm on Monday through
Friday
Customer Service Unit,
Tel/Fax No: +44-870-135-2454
Email: lotteryselectors@netscape.net
Contact person: MR CHRISTIAN MIKE.
Our winners are assured of the utmost standards of confidentiality, and
press anonymity until the end of proceedings, and beyond where they so
desire. Be further advised to maintain the strictest level of\
confidentiality until the end of proceedings to circumvent problems
associated with fraudulent cliams.

CONGRATULATIONS !!!
At your disposal, we remain.Very Truly Yours,
MARY STEWART (Mrs.),
Director.
International Promotions Unit,
UK Leeds Promotions LOTTERY,
Airport Hale Rd Halebarns
Altrincham Cheshire WA15 8XW UK


Anti-fraud resources: