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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: "Grazia Mille" <winnatale37@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: paobartelli@libero.it
Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2006 02:37:14 +0000
Subject: Merry Christmas!!! ***You Have Won***

Attention!!!

Our records show that you haven’t come forward to claim the “Grazia Mille”
prize of One Million United States Dollars. The deadline date is fast
approaching and if we do not receive your claim immediately we will move to
cancel your prize without further notice.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas is just around the corner and just like everybody else we at Lotto
Natale love to get in to the Christmas spirit, and this year we have all the
more reason to celebrate for it is our 10th anniversary this December, and
to celebrate we are launching our first international program, The “Grazia
Mille” promotion With this program we intend to make this Christmas
exceptionally special for ten winners and all the more memorable by giving
you a chance to get One Million United States Dollars!

Yes, $1, 000, 000, 00.

With the introduction of new types of games and the ushering in of on-line
technology and with the permits issued under EU law to EU countries to
compete for concessions to run games in Italy and on the internet, we are
launching our first online international program called: “Grazia Mille” What
better time to join the internet gaming than with our 10th anniversary. In
this program in place of tickets or numbers in the ballots we use e-mail
addresses and from the draw of the “Grazia Mille” program that took place on
the 16th of November 2006, your e-mail address coupled with claim code
925/OBS/011-04/06 came up as the winner of One Million United States Dollars
in this promotion.

All winnings must be claimed not later than the 6th of December 2006. After
receiving the prize, you are required to come to Milan, Italy on our all
expense paid trip to appear on our TV program about this promotion. This
program will be recorded at the Rai Uno studios on the 20th December to air
25th December 2006.
All entries must adhere to the “Grazia Mille” Terms and conditions stated in
our official page.
This program is strictly for international participants and all Italian
residents are exempt from participation.
To view the terms click on this link: http://graziaterms.4mg.com/index.html
or paste it in your browser.

As authorized payment agents, we are required by law to disburse the prizes
to the correct recipients and we must verify that you have the correct claim
code and being that an email address is not an accepted signature of
identification; your personal details must be registered to the claim
information before we can payout the prize. Lotto Natale has assigned an
accredited agent to assist you in processing your claim:

Paulo Bartelli
Email: paobartelli@libero.it

Contact your processing agent to file for your claim with the following
information:

Name:
Claim Code:
Tel:
Country:
Not providing the above mentioned requirement when replying can lead to
disqualification.

Management.
Lotto Natale.
Milan,
Italy

NOTICE: If you wish to be taken out of this list do not reply to this mail,
reply to the agent with the words remove. If you are not the intended
recipient, you must not, directly or indirectly, use, disclose, distribute,
print or copy any part of this message. If you believe you have received
this message in error, please delete it and all copies of it from your
system and notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail. Thank you.

_________________________________________________________________
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