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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.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "National Lottery" <notification789@msn.com>
Reply-To: steve-pyke@london.com
Date: Fri, 03 Feb 2006 22:42:28 +0000
Subject: INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT

NOTE:All mails should be sent to the claim agent mail address for filling of your winning claims.
 
UK NATIONAL LOTTERY

 The National Lottery Logo The National Lottery Logo                   

                                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
12 BRIDGE STREET,
STAINS MIDDLESEX TW18 4TP
UNITED KINGDOM.

FROM: THE DESK OF THE DIRECTOR OF PROMOTIONS,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT,
REF: NL/31977/DSA/FEB                                               
 
                                                    WINNING NOTIFICATION:
 
 We are pleased to inform you of the announcement today of winners of  the NATIONAL LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS. You / your company, attached to ticket number 654-6734-4534-006, with serial number J547-69 drew the lucky numbers 12-18-21-32-37-41, and consequently won in category B.You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay of £1,000,000.00 in  cash credited to file REF NO.NL/31977/DSA/FEB. This is from total prize money of US$15,000,000.00 shared among the fifteen (15) international winners in the category B. All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 150,000 names from Australia, New Zealand, America, Asia, Europe, USA and North America as part our International Promotions Program, which is conducted monthly.Your fund is now deposited with the Finance and Security section and insured in your name. 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.We hope with a part of you prize, you will participate in our end of year high stakes US$1.3 billion International lotto.To begin your claim, please contact your claims officer immediately:
 
 
 
MR STEVE PYKE.
CLAIM AGENT
Tel:0044-704-010-8395
Fax:0044-700-580-2188
 
 
 
NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your reference number in every one of your correspondences with your officer. Furthermore, should there be any  change of your address, do inform your claims officer as soon as possible.
Congratulations again from all our staff and thank you for being part  of our promotions program.
 
Yours faithfully,
Richard K. Lloyd.
Online Coordinator for UK NATIONAL LOTTERY
Sweepstakes International Program.
Copyright © 1994-2006 The UK National Lottery Inc.
All rights reserved. Terms of Service - Guidelines
 
 You must be 16 or over to play or claim a prize
 
 
------------------------------------------------------THIS MESSAGE AND ITS
CONTENTS (TO INCLUDE ATTACHMENTS) ARE THE PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL LOTTERY CORPORATION AND MAY CONTAIN CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY
INFORMATION. YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT ANY DISCLOSURE, COPYING, OR DISTRIBUTION OF THIS MESSAGE, OR THE TAKING OF ANY ACTION BASED ON INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. UNAUTHORIZED USE OF INFORMATION CONTAINED HERE IN MAY SUBJECT YOU TO CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PROSECUTION AND PENALTIES. IF YOU ARE NOT THE INTENDED RECIPIENT, YOU SHOULD DELETE THIS MESSAGE IMMEDIATELY. THANKS.......

=====================================

 

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