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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: WANG LIN <lin_coordinator@rediffmail.com>
Reply-To: wang_coordinator@rediffmail.com
Date: Tue, 27 Dec 2005 11:59:19 +0700
Subject: PROMOTION WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT


22nd December 2005.
From; The Desk of the Vice President.
Asia Pacific International Promotions (Organizers of PACIFIC LOTTERY) PRIZE/AWARD WINNING LOTTERY.
BATCH: ZVD/97835428/58; REFERENCE: 86/3549/ERN
This is to inform you of the release of Asia Pacific International Lottery Draw which was held on the 19th July 2005, but owing to some mix up of numbers and addresses, the results were released on the 13th of September 2005.
Your name was attached to a winning ticket number 175-28694235-94 with serial number 68249-2 that drew the lucky numbers of 32-00-58-78-42-51, which consequently won the lottery in the 2nd category. You have therefor e been approved for a lump sum pay of US$1,850,000.00 (one million eight hundred and fifty thousand United States Dollars only) in cash credited to file with REF. No: K.YRT/9863457264/985. This is from a total cash prize of US$75,020,225.00, shared among the sixty international winners in this category.
CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Your fund is now deposited with our Bank/Finance Company and insured in your name. Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep this award from public notice until your claim has been processed, and the money remitted to your account, as this is part of our security protocol, to avoid doubl e claiming and unwarranted taking of advantage of this program by participants, as has happened in the past.
All participants were selected through a random computer ballot system drawn from 480,000 names, email addresses & official addresses, from Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, North and South America, Middle East and Africa, as part of our International Promotions Program aimed at alleviating the suffering of the tsunami hit areas and to commemorate the tsunami disaster anniversary. For testimonies of past winners of our coordinated programs visit www.smartluck.com
We hope your lucky name will draw a bigger cash prize in the subsequent programs. To begin your lottery claims, please contact our Coordinator as follows:
Name: Mr. Steven Bossman. (ASIA PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS HEAD OFFICE ASIA ZONE).
TELL: +(66) 52101288
Email: lottery_asiapromo@rediffmail.com
Remember, all prized money must be claimed not later than 30th January 2006. Any claim not made by this date will be deemed invalid and returned to the national treasury. Be informed also that 10% of your lottery winning belongs to (THE PROMOTIONS COMPANY), because they are the company that bought your winning ticket and played the lottery in your name. However this 10% will be remitted after you have received your winning prize, because the money is insured in your name already. In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in all correspondences with us. Furthermore should there be any change of address, please do inform our coordinator as soon as possible.
An original copy of your lucky winning ticket and your deposit certificate will be sent to you by Administrative Remittance Operation Manager of UOB Radanasin Bank Bangkok Thailand. CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Once again from all members of our staff and thank you for being a part of our International Promotions program.
We wish you continued good fortunes.
Sincerely,
Wang Lin.

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