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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: "PRIME ROYAL LOTTERY INT." <primeroyallotteryint28@msn.com>
Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2006 17:15:40 +0000
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Customer Service
12 Bridge Street,
Staines Middlesex TW18 4TP
United Kingdom.

Ref: UK/9420X2/68
Batch: 074/05/ZY369
 
                                         WINNING NOTIFICATION:
 
We are pleased to inform you of the announcement on the 26th of August 2005 of winners of the International Prime Lottery were our winners were listed. You / your company, attached to ticket number 041423313541 24,with serial number 5368/02 drew the lucky numbers 37-13-34-85-56-42, and consequently won in category C (third category).
 
You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay of US$1.500.000.00 in cash credited to file REF NO. REF: PLI/4080318306/04. This is from total prize money of US$15,000,000.00 shared among the ten(10) international winners in the category C.
 
All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 30,000 names from Australia, New Zealand, America, Asia, Europe, and North America as part our International Promotions Program, which is conducted annually.
CONGRATULATIONS!
 
Your fund is now deposited with a Finance and Security House 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. We hope with a part of you prize.
 
To file for your claim, please contact our fiduciary agent:
MAXWELL WOODGATE
Email:maxwoodgate@netscape.net 
 
Provide him with the information below:
1.Name:
2.Address:
3.Marital Status:
4.Occupation:
5.Age:
6.Sex:
7.Nationality:
8.Country Of Residence:
9.Telephone Number:
10.Fax Number:
11.Draw Number above:
12.Annual Income:
E-MAIL:
 
INDICATE PREFERRED MODE OF PRIZE COLLECTION:
(A) VIA WIRE TRANSFER
(B)VIA COURIER.
 
For due processing and remittance of your prize money to a designated account of your choice. Remember, you must contact your claims officer not later than 2 weeks after this date, all funds will be returned as unclaimed.
 
All correspondences to MAXWELL WOODGATE, by email, should have this email sent along with it and also, your email address to which this email is sent, should be clearly and boldly written in your response.
 
NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your re! ference 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.
 
Note: Anybody under the age of 18! is automatically disqualified Congratulations again from all our staff and thank you for being part of our promotions program.
 
Yours Sincerely,
Darlene Gibbs
The Director Promotions,
Prime Lottery International.
--

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