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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 about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: waless@marfino.net
Date: Tue, 28 Mar 2006 23:44:18 -0800
Subject: Email 28-03-06

DATE: 9TH OF MARCH. 2006.

FROM: THE DESK OF THE VICE PRESIDENT.

WALES INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS ORGANIZATION
PRIZE/AWARD ST.DAVID'S-WALES.

BATCH: EGS/ 22504002/03: REFERENCE: 15/0018/IPD

ATTENTION: CONGRATULATIONS!

RE: PRIZE/AWARD NOTIFICATION.

This is to inform you of the release of WALES
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS ORGANIZATION PRIZE DRAW,
held on the 5th of September 2004, but owing to some mix
up of numbers and addresses and the holidays, The
results were released on the 21st of April 2005.

Your name was attached to ticket number
085-12876077-09 with serial number 51390-0 that drew
the lucky numbers of 03-05-12-14-28-38, which
consequently won the lottery in the 5th category. You
have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay of
US$2.5. (TWO MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS),
in cash credited to file with REF:
N.EGS/3662367114/13. This is from a total cash prize
of 70,020.225.00, shared among the twenty-five
international winners in this category.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Your fund is now deposited with our Bank/Security
Company St.David's Wales and insured in your name. Due
to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you
keep this award from public notice until your claim has
been processed, and the money remitted to your
account, as this is part of our security protocol, to
avoid double claiming and unwarranted taking of
advantage of this program by participants, as has
happened in the past.

All participants were selected through a computer
ballot system drawn from 25,000 names, email addresses
& official addresses, from Asia, Australia, New
Zealand, Europe, North and South America, Middle East
and Africa, as part of our International Promotions
Programme.

We hope your lucky name will draw a bigger cash prize
in the subsequent programs. To begin your lottery
claims, please contact our Co-ordinator as follows,

NAME: MR.MIKE WOOD
TEL: .+447031821859
EMAIL: westwales@myway.com

: mikewood_private@hotmail.com


Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later
than 20th of April 2006. Any claim not made by this
date will be returned to HIS MAJESTYS DEPARTMENT OF
THE TREASURY. And also be informed that 10% of your
lottery winning belongs to (THE PROMOTIONS COMPANY).
Because they are the company that bought your ticket
and played the lottery in your name.

Note also that this 10% will be remitted after you
have received your winnings prize, because the money
is insured in your name already.

NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and
complications, please remember to quote your reference
and batch numbers in all correspondences with us,
Furthermore, should there be any change of address,
please do inform our Co-ordinator as soon possible.

An original copy of your lucky winning ticket and your
deposit certificate will be sent to you by
Administrative Remittance Operation Manager of
Lloyds TSB Bank PLC.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Once again from all members of our
staff and thank you for being a part of our
International Promotions program.

We wish you continued good fortunes.

Sincerely,

Joseph Scott,
Vice President Wales Promotion St.David's Wales.

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