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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: ONCE SWEEPSTAKES LOTTERY <marion@once.es>
Date: Sat, 7 Jan 2006 21:56:06 +0100
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS YOU ARE AN EMAIL LOTTERY WINNER!!!

ONCE SWEEPSTAKES LOTTERY
FROM: THE DESK OF VICE PRESIDENT.
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPT.
REF NO: EGS/2551256003/02
BATCH NO: 14/0017/IPD

ATTN kp.rolie:

RE: AWARD NOTIFICATION, FINAL NOTICE.
We are pleased to inform you of the results of the ONCE SPANISH SWEEPSTAKE LOTTERY /
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS held on the 22nd of December, 2005
Your Email Address attached to ticket number 02766 with serial number035 drew the lucky numbers 4 -
18 - 24 - 30 - 31 - 35 which consequently won the lottery in the 3rd category.
You have therefore being approved for a lump sum payout of
815,810.00 Euros(EIGHT HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED AND TEN
EUROS
ONLY) in cash credited to file REF NO: EGS/2551256003/02. This is from a total cash prize
of 4,126,480.00 Euros(SIX MILLION FIVE HUNDRED AND TWENTY SIX THOUSAND, FOUR
HUNDRED AND EIGHTY EUROS) shared among the eight international
winners in this category.
Your funds is now deposited with a security company and insured to 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 your money remitted to your designated account as this is a part of our standard security
protocol to avoid double claiming of this program by participants and some unscrupulous individuals.As a
means of
answering various questions that might be crossing your mind on reciept of this email such as (How did i
enter for this
lottery when i did not purchase a ticket for such,how did you get my email address or how did i win)
please note that All
participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 35,000 names and email
addresses from Asia,
Australia, Middle East, New Zealand, Europe, Africa and America as part of our international promotions
program which we conduct bi-annually and the programm is sponsored partly by the ONCE in
collaboration with the other
coporate organizations based here in spain . We hope that with a part of your prize money, you would
take part in our end of year high stake worth US$ 1.3 million international lottery.
To begin your claims please contact:

MR. ALEX BROOKS
Foreign claims manager on
Tel: +31 617 664 901
email: alexbrooks2004@netscape.net or brooksalex@alex4all.com for the processing and remittance of
your lottery winnings.
Remember that all prize money must be claimed not later than 17th February 2006. After this date,
all unclaimed funds will be added to the next draws which comes up in July.
NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please
Remember to quote your reference, batch and prize claim track numbers in every of your
correspondence with us or your agent.
Furthermore, should there be any change of your address, do inform your claims agent as soon as
possible. Congratulations again from all members of our staff and thank you for being a part of our
Promotions program.
Sincerely,
MARION GONZALEZ
MANAGING DIRECTOR PRIZE CLAIM TRACK #N 20432722

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