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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: "Lisa Johnson" <lisa_johnson008@msn.com>
Reply-To: james_peters03@lycos.com
Date: Thu, 15 Dec 2005 23:42:53 +0000
Subject: WINNING NOTICE

SKYMIT PROMOTIONS WORLDWIDE.
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM (NL)
28 Hamilton Terrace,
Leamington Spa, England CV32 4LY.
Tel.+4470 4011 3308

FROM: THE PROMOTION DIRECTOR
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS DEPT.
REF: 7488/4390/4630
BATCH: 830923267-DH79.

ATTN:WINNER,

RE:AWARD FINAL NOTIFICATION:,

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Lottery Winners
International
programs held on the 11th of December, 2005. Your e-mail address attached to
ticket
number 736047196748-5701 with serial Number 4081-497 drew lucky numbers
7-24-78-62-14-05 which consequently won in the 1st category, you have
therefore been
approved for a lump sum pay out of £500,000.00.00Pounds (Five Hundred
Thousand
pounds).CONGRATULATIONS!!! Due to mix up in some numbers and names, we ask
that you
keep your winning information confidential until you file for your claim.
This is part
of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of
this program
by some participants.

All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from
over 25,000
companies and 50,000,000 individual e-mail addresses and names from all over
the World.
This promotional program takes place every year. This lottery program was
organized by
our group of philanthropist promoted and sponsored by Mr. Bill Gates of
Microsoft Inc,
eminent personalities like the sultan of Brunei, Multi Choice and other
corporate
Organisations.This lottery program was organized to improving the use of
computer
softwares and for the benefit of every Microsoft user.

To file for your claim, please contact our fiducial Agent:
SKYMIT TRUST AGENCY.Foreign transfer manager.
Mr.James Peters.
By replying back to this email.

They are your agent, and responsible for the processing and transfer of your
winnings
fund to you.Remember, all winnings must be filed not later than of 23rd
December,2005 or when authentic proof is given for the delay of filing.
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 agent as
soon as
possible.Congratulations once more from our members of staff and thank you
for being a
Winner in our promotional program.
Note: Anybody under the age of 18 years is automatically disqualified.

Sincerely yours,
Lisa Johnson (Ms.)
Lottery Coordinator.

Confidentiality Notice:
The information contained in this e-mail and any attachments may be legally
privileged
and confidential. If you are not an intended recipient, you are hereby
notified that
any dissemination,distribution or copying of this e-mail is strictly
prohibited. If you
have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender and permanently
delete the
e-mail and any attachments immediately. You should not retain, copy or use
this e-mail
or any attachment for any purpose, nor disclose all or any part of the
contents to any
other person.


Anti-fraud resources: