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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: winner email <wonlotto22@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 4 Aug 2006 21:13:14 +0100 (BST)
Subject: $4.5MILLION DOLLARS


wonlotto22@yahoo.co.uk
ADDRESS:
17, ROYAL ARCADE
331-339 BOURKE
MALL
AUSTRALIA.
Sir/Madam,
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the
Lottery Winners International programs held on the
2nd,August, 2005. Your e-mail address
attached to ticket number 3110045298-88243 with serial number 4014-032
drew lucky numbers are 2-10-25-64-91-105-199-218-390-406 which consequently
won in the 1st category, you have therefore been approved for a lump
sum pay out of $4,500,000(FOUR MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND U S D).
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 30,000 companies and 40,000,000 individual email
addresses
and names from all over the world. This promotional program takes place
every 2/3month in different countries.
This lottery was promoted and sponsored by eminent personalities like
the Sultan of Brunei and Governors. We look forward to your active participation in
our next year USD50 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: mega_buck@o2.pl
Note that, all winnings must be claimed not later than one month. After
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.
Yours sincerely,
George Mathew.



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