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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: "BUCK-MEGA" <donsmith.william1@virgilio.it>
Date: Wed, 05 Jul 2006 13:16:26 +0400
Subject: Ticket Number

BUCK - MEGA - LOTTO
CONGRATULATIONS FROM
BUCK-MEGA LOTTO
DON SMITH
AMSTERDAM-NEDERLAND
1725 DW/
REF NUMBER: 014/060/532
BATCH NUMBER: 762901-PCD03

Sir/Madam,

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Lottery Winners
International Programs held on the 24ST of June, 2006. Your e-mail address
Attached to ticket number 27522465896-6453 with serial number 3772-554 Drew
lucky numbers 7-14-18-23-31-45 which consequently won in the 2nd Category,
you have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of Euros
2,500,000(TWO MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND EURO'S). CONGRATULATIONS!!!
For security purpose and clarity, we advise that you keep your winning
Information confidential until your claims have been processed and your
Money remitted to you. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double
claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some Participants. All
participants were selected through a computer ballot
System Drawn from over 20,000 companies and 30,000,000 individual email
addresses And names from all over the world. This promotional program takes
place every year.

This lottery was promoted and sponsored by eminent personalities like The
Sultan of Brunei. We look forward to your active participation in our next
year EURO'S 50 million slot. You are requested to contact our clearance
office to assist you with the claim and transfer of your winnings fund into
your instructed account

By acknowledging the receipt of this mail with the email address below.
Email address: megabucklotto@netscape.net or donsmith1001@excite.com Note.
That, all winnings must be claimed not later than one month. This date all
unclaimed funds will be null and Void. Please note in order to avoid
unnecessary delays and complications, Remember to quote your reference
number and batch numbers in all Correspondence. Furthermore, should there be
any change of address do inform our Agent as soon as possible
Congratulations once more and thank you for being part of our Promotional
program.

NOTE: YOU ARE AUTOMATICALLY DISQUALIFIED IF YOU ARE BELOW 18 YEARS OF
AGE.


Sincerely yours,
DON SMITH.
Payment Officer
Email: megabucklotto@netscape.net



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