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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: starlotteries@starmail.co.za
Date: Fri, 07 Jul 2006 13:01:43 +0200
Subject: STAR PROMOTIONAL DRAW RESULT FOR JUNE 2006

FROM THE DESK OF THE PROMOTION MANAGER,
STAR LOTTERY
JOHANNESBURG,SOUTH AFRICA.

Dear Sir/Madam,

We are pleased to inform you that you have won a cash prize
of $250.000.00(Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand United States
Dollars in Star Lottery Electronic draw published June 30th,
2006.

Your email address was selected through a computer ballot
system and was entered for a draw from a database of
5,500,000 email addresses of individuals from Africa,
America, Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe,Middle East, and
New Zealand as part of our electronic business Promotional
Program.

A ticket number 900-309-6482, with serial number 311
410-887 was attached to your email address which drew the
lucky numbers 1 10 29 37 45 49 and consequently won in the
second category.

CONGRATULATIONS!

To claims your prize, please contact our Claims Manager
with the information below,

Name: Mrs. Joyce Fraiser
Email:claimdepartment@starmail.co.za

You are required to furnish the claims manager with the
following information,

1.Full Names
2.Contact Address
3.Telephone Number and fax Numbers.
4.Age
5.Sex
6.Nationality
7.Occupation
8.Winning numbers
9.Ticket and serial numbers.

Ensure that you contact the claims Manager not later than
14 working days from the day you receive this notification
message for due processing and payment of your prize.


Sincerely,

MRS MARGARET POWELL
THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER,
STAR LOTTERY, SOUTH AFRICA



Anti-fraud resources: