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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: "EUROPEAN AWARD" <eurprizeaward@sympatico.ca>
Date: Mon, 27 Feb 2006 23:10:48 +0000
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION/ PROCESSING ADVISE

     EUROPEAN PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT
REGISTERED UNDER THE DATA PROTECTION ACT OF:
(Registration LT12).
 
Corporate headquarters
P O Box 2314
Bermingham, b80 1up
UNITED KINGDOM
                         
                             
                                 
     
WINNING NOTIFICATION/ PROCESSING ADVISE
 
Security Code No.ULI/APRXX/05
 Ref: UK/9420X/68
 Batch: 07405/ZY369 
Winning no: GB8701/LPRC
 
 Dear Lucky Winner,
We are delighted to inform you of your prize release on saturday feb. 25th, 2006 from the United Kingdom International Lottery programme. Which is fully based on an electronic selection of winners using their e-mail addresses.
Your name was attached to ticket number; 5647560054 serial number 5360/02 This batch draws the lucky numbers as follows 7-27-29-37-14 bonus number 40, which consequently won the lottery in the second category.
 
You hereby have been approved a lump sum pay of 1,000,000.00 GBP.(ONE MILLION GREAT BRITAIN POUNDS) in cash credit file ref: ILP/HW 47509/02 from the total cash prize of 1,000,000.00GBP
 
All participant were selected through a computer balloting system drawn form Nine hundred thousand E-mail addresses from Canada, Australia, United States, Asia, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Oceania as part of our international promotions program which is conducted annually.
 
This Lottery was promoted and sponsored by a conglomorate of some multinational companies as part of their social responsibility to the citizens in the commmunities where they have operational base.
 
Further more your details(e-mail address) falls within our representative offices in europe, as indicated in your play coupon.
 
HOW TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE, Simply contact our agent, MR THOMAS TENNANT:
Tele: 0044 704 011 0466
 
For the immediate release of your funds you are to  provide the following details to our agent;
 
FULL NAMES OF BENEFICIARY:........................
 
CONTACT ADDRESS:..................................
 
CITY/STATE:.......................................
 
COUNTRY:..........................................
 
NATIONALITY:......................................
 
OCCUPATION:.....................................
 
SEX:.......................AGE:...................
 
MARITAL STATUS...................................
 
TEL NO:...........................................
 
NEXT OF KIN:......................................
 
AMOUNT WON:.......................................
 
REFENCE NO:................BATCH NO:..............
 
LUCKY NO:..................TICKET NO..............
 
SERIAL NO:.................LOTTERY DATE:..........
 
For security reasons, we advice all winners to keep this information confidential from the public until your claim is processed and your prize released to you. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted taking advantage of this programme by non-participant or unofficial personnel, Please Be Warned.
 
Note, all winnings MUST be claimed before MARCH 24TH 2006; otherwise all funds will be returned as Unclaimed and eventually donated to charity.
 
 
Richard  Woodgate
Coodinator
You must be 16 or over to play or claim a prize
--

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