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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: earthling lottery <earthling@earthling.orangehome.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 2 Oct 2006 14:09:37 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: EARTHLING PROMOTION BV


EARTHLING PROMOTION BV
Mijtenstraat 175,
Postcode 2526 VC,
Den-Haag,
Netherlands.
Ref: NO: ELPB/1190462.
Ticket NO: EL/218883216.
In view of the yearly sweepstake of the above named organization held on the 2nd of October 2006. It is my pleasure to inform you that your e-mail address attached to the above ballot No came up in the second stake.
This invariably means that you have emerged as the prize recipient in the second category with an allocated sum of USD$1,000,000.00 (One Million United States Dollars Only), in the open charity ballot device.
Be informed that all participants were selected from a randon computing ballot system.
This charitable sweepstake is sponsored by a group of corporate organizations and governmental parastatals drawn from major cities in Europe.
As a matter of principle, you are to donate at the minimum one tenth of the fund to an outstanding charity project in your locality, after the reception of your fund.
To file for your claim and other enquiries, contact the designated fiducial consultant; Mrs. Sonia Van Roy, via E-mail (soniavanroy@linq.nl)
Congratulations once more
Faithfully yours'
Vivian Smith (Mrs.)
NB; ensure that your Ballot No is sent in your application to the above designated office.

Anti-fraud resources: