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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.

 

 

Please note about this email:

Fraud email example:

From: "winners_universalpromo online" <winners_universalpromo@msn.com>
Date: Fri, 18 Nov 2005 09:50:24 +0000
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION:Christmas Edition.

 
 The National Lottery Logo

 
GRAND UNIVERSAL PROMO 10 NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE,
LONDON WC2N 5BX, THE UNITED KINGDOM.
FROM: THE DESK OF THE DIRECTOR PROMOTIONS,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT
 
                                                WINNING NOTIFICATION
 
We are pleased to inform you of the announcement today, 18TH of NOVEMBER 2005, of winners of the GRAND UNIVERSAL PROMO held on 30TH of September 2005.
 
Your email address was attached to ticket number 23-2316-5186-477;with serial number A015-09 drew the lucky numbers 35-13-34-85-56-87, and consequently won in category A. You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of S$2,000,000.00 in cash credited to file REF NO.GKPL/67-AO91652005.
 
This is from total prize money of US$6,000.000.00 shared among the three international winners in the category A. All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 100,000 companies/individuals from Middle East, Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific islands, America, Asia, Europe and North America as part of our International Promotions Program, which is conducted annually.
 
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.
 
ELIGIBILITY:
This promotion is offered only electronically via the Internet and is open to all persons from age 18 years and above with a valid email address and who lives in any of the aforementioned countries. This promotion is void in all other countries and is also void where prohibited.
Principals and employees of the Universal Promotion Draw and its respective Parents, Affiliates/subsidiaries and their immediate families are not eligible.
 
CLAIMS PROCEDURES:
It is our standard practice to allocate accredited agents for the processing of claims application. It is even more imperative for overseas winners. To begin your claims therefore, you are advised as a matter of  urgency, to contact the under listed licensed and accredited claims agent for the processing of your prize awards winning.
 
Please contact your claim agent (through your claims agent only) the body assigned with the verification of all emergent winners. Therefore all protocols laid down by them must be followed to facilitate your claims; We hope with a part of your prize, you will participate in our end of year high stakes US$15Million international lotto.
 
TO FILE YOUR CLAIM RESPOND BACK TO YOUR CLAIM AGENT WITH THE FOLLOWING
INFORMATION BELOW
 
CLAIMS AGENT:
MS. SARAH RICE OR MR. BEN MAIZEL
Email: sarahrice@walla.com
TEL: 44-703-190-6775
TEL: 44-703-190-6715      
20 Lausanne Road London,
SW2 3JB ENGLAND.U.K
 
1. NAME IN FULL:................................
2. ADDRESS:.....................................
3. NATIONALITY:.................................
4. AGE:.........................................
5. OCCUPATION:..................................
6. PHONE/FAX:...................................
7.COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE.........
8. IDENTIFICATION INSTRUMENT.. (Drivers Licence/International Passport or State ID or Work ID accepted)
 
She will brief you on steps to be taken for due processing and remittance of your prize money.
Remember, you must contact her using this Email address ONLY  <sarahrice@walla.com> not later than two weeks; after this date, funds will be returned as unclaimed.
 
NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your reference number in ALL your correspondence.
 
Ticket number 23-2316-5186-477
Serial number A015-09
Lucky numbers 35-13-34-85-56-87
File REF NO. GKPL/67-AO91652005
 
Congratulations again from all our staff and thank you for being part of our christmas Lottery Promotion Program.
 
Sincerely,
Ben Maizel.
THE DIRECTOR PROMOTIONS,
GRAND UNIVERSAL PROMO
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DISCLAIMER:
DO NOT REPLY BACK TO THIS MAIL, CONTACT YOUR CLAIM AGENT, IF YOU DO, IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY RESULT TO DISQUALIFICATION TO YOUR WINNINGS.ANY BREACH OF CONFIDENTIALITY ON YOUR PART WILL ALSO DISQUALIFY YOU AS WELL.
The Universal Promotion LOTTERY Awards is proudly sponsored by the Microsoft Corporation, the Intel Group,Toshiba, Dell computers, Mackintosh and a conglomeration of other international IT companies. The Universal Promotion LOTTERY internet draws in each quarter of  the year and is so organized to encourage the use of the internet and computers worldwide. We are proud to say that up to One hundred Million Dollars are won annually in more than 150 Countries worldwide.
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