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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: "UK-Online National Lottery" <tombenson1960@latinmail.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: mealytroung5@myway.com
Date: Wed, 1 Nov 2006 12:59:10 +0000
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION

UK-Online National Lottery
P O Box 1010, Liverpool, L70 1NL
United Kingdom.
(Registration Z720633X).
Ref: UK/9420X/05
Batch: 074/05/ZY369

Sir/Madam,

WINNING NOTIFICATION

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Lottery Winners International programs held on the 8th July, 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 US$2,500,000.00 (TWO MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND US DOLLARS). 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 3,000,000 individual email addresses and names from all over the world. This promotional program takes place twice every year. This lottery was promoted and sponsored by UK-Online National Lottery. We look forward to your active participation in our next year US$5 million slot. You are requested to contact Payment/Clearance Officer at Barclays Bank Plc to assist you with the claim and transfer of your winnings fund into your instructed account through the contact information below:

Payment/Clearance Officer:
Tel/Fax: +44 870 131 6485
Email: mealytroung5@yahoo.co.uk
Email: mealytroung5@myway.com

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.

Sincerely yours,
KINGSLEY PEPPO



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