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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: Loteria Primitiva <loteria-primiti@zwallet.com>
Date: Thu, 12 Jan 2006 11:57:36 +0100
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS WINNER


LOTERIA PRIMITIVA/INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM
FROM: THE DESK OF THE MANAGING DIRECTOR INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT.
CALLE ALCALA-28290 MADRID-SPAIN
REF Nº: EPSL/25003189/SP/05
BATCH Nº:1007581999

ATTN: WINNER,

We wish to congratulate you over your email success in our computer balloting sweepstake held on 2nd January 2006 . 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 it, your email address name attached to a ticket number 004-2046912-680 with serial number 9123-07 drew the lucky numbers 5-20-48-91-41-75 which consequently won the lottery in the 3rd category. You have therefore been approved for a lump sum payout of €625,000.00 (Six Hundred and Twenty Five Thousand Euros) in cash credited to the file reference number: EPSL/25003189/SP/05. This is from a total cash price of €20,368,770.00 (Twenty million three hundred and sixty-eight thousand, seven hundred and seventy euros only) shared among the seventeen international winners in this category.

CONGRATULATIONS !!!

Your fund is now deposited with our correspondence Security/Storage Company insured to your name. Due to the mix up of some numbers and names, we advice that you keep this award from public notice until your claiming or unwarranted taking advantage of this program by participants . All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 25,000 names from Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, Europe and North America as part of our international promotions program which we conduct once every year. We hope that with part of your prize, you will part-take in our end of year high stake 2,300,000,000.00 Euros international lotteries.

You are advised to keep this winning very confidential until you receive your lump prize in your account. This is a protective measure to avoid double claiming by people you may tell as we have had cases like this before,

To begin your claim please contact your claim agent,

MMT SEGUROS COMPANY.
Madrid Spain.
Contact person: Mr. Lopez Garcia
Foreign Services Manager
Email: mmt_seguros@walla.com
Tel: 0034 676799031

For processing and remittance of your prize fund into your designated bank account .

Note: All prize funds must be claimed before the 30Th of January 2006 after this date all funds will be returned to the MINISTERIO DE ECONOMIA Y HACIENDA as unclaimed. In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please endeavour to quote your reference and batch numbers in every correspondence with us to your claim agent. Furthermore, should there be any change in your address do inform your claim agent as soon as possible. Congratulation once again from all members of our staff and thank you for being part of our promotion program.

Best Regards

Mrs. Louisa Santos
(For The Management)

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