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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: Smith Van Dijk <smith@vandijk2.orangehome.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 30 Oct 2006 16:30:25 +0100 (CET)
Subject: REF NO: AIF61693008-09!!!


REF NO: AIF61693008-09!!!
AWARD DEPARMENT!!!
DE GOLDSTAR E-GAME.
DEAR SIR/MADAM,
SEQUEL TO THE ANNUAL PROMOTION DRAW OF THE ABOVE NAMED ESTABLISHMENT IN EUROPE, CONDUCTED ON THE 30TH OCTOBER, 2006. I AM GLAD TO NOTIFY YOU THAT YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS ATTECHED TO REF NO: AIF61693008-09 AND TICKET NUMBER: 40338522CH WHICH WON IN THE FIRST CATEGORY 'A' LUMP-SUM OF ONE MILLION AND FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND Euros ( 1.500,000; 00. Euros).
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
BE ADVISED TO KEEP YOUR WINNING REF NUMBER CONFIDETAIL TILL YOUR PRIZE IS PROCESSED, TO AVOID MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS/FILLINGS. ALL PARTICIPANTS WERE SELECTED RANDOMLY BY A COMPUTER SOFTWARE BALLOT DEVICE.
THIS PROMOTION IS SPONSORED BY SOME GROUP OF CORPORATE ESTABLISHMENT AND DE GOLDSTAR E-GAME ORGANIZATIONS IN EUROPE.
NB: KIND TO STATE YOUR REF AND TICKET NUMBERS WHEN FILLING FOR YOUR CLAIM.
CONTACT THE AWARD DEPARTMENT:
Mr. Smith Van Dijk
Tel: +31-619-255-084
Fax: 31-847-521-825
E-Mail: director012@netscape.net
CONGRATULATIONS ONCE MORE,
YOURS SINCERELY,
Mrs, Edsilia Simons.
NB: all respone should be mail to DE AWARD DEPARTMENT: director012@netscape.net

Anti-fraud resources: