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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: "winners winners" <choicesdv007@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: wingatepromo@myway.com
Date: Thu, 09 Feb 2006 11:14:39 +0000
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION

WINGATE PROMO LOTTERY BV.
GROOT HERTOGLAAN 45
2517 EC DEN HAAG,
THE NETHERLANDS.
 
OFFICE OF THE PROMOTION MANAGER,
REF NO: WPLB-652-06.
BATCH NO:LW-940SB02.
 
DEAR WINNER,
 
                     RE: AWARD NOTIFICATION
 
We are pleased to inform you the release of result and the winners of WINGATE PROMO LOTTERY GAME PROMOTION,an International Program held on 28th November 2005. Your email address were entered as dependent client attached to the ticket number: 246896; with serial number:6628-05, drew the lucky numbers: 06-17-22-84,which consequently won the lottery in category "A".
 
You have hereby been approved for a lump sum payment of US$1.5Million in cash credited to your file REFERENCE NUMBER: WPLB-652-06. This is from total
prize money of US$15,000.000.00 shared among the ten(10)International winners in this category.  All participants were selected through a computer Ballot
system drawn from 100,000 email addresses from all continents as part of international promotions program which  is conducted annually.
 
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
 
Your fund is now deposited with a Finance House here in THE NETHERLANDS and insured in your favour. Due to the mixed up of some numbers and mail addresses 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.
 
To begin your claim, please contact our claim Department below immediately:
 
MR Han VAN GAAL
DIRECTOR CLAIMS
WINGATE PROMO LOTTERY BV., THE NETHERLANDS
E-MAIL ID: wingatepromo@myway.com
 
For due processing and remittance of your prize money to a designated account of your choice.Remember,all prize money must be claimed not later than 20th
FEBRUARY,2006. After this date, all funds will be returned to us as unclaimed.
 
NOTE:In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complication, please remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in every of your correspondence with
our claim department. Furthermore, should there be any change of your address, do inform our claims agent as soon as possible.
 
Congratulations again from all our staff and thank you for being part of our promotions  program.
 
Sincerely,
 
MR. J.P.THISSEN
PROMOTIONS MANAGER,
WINGATE PROMO LOTTERY BV.,
THE NETHERLANDS

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