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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: Gee Pee Software <gsftwarepromo@o2.pl>
Date: Wed, 27 Dec 2006 03:28:15 +0100
Subject: New Year Lottery, Claim prize now!

CONGRATULATION-WINNING NOTIFICATION
GEE PEE SOFTWARE INC.
SWEEPSTAKES DIVISION.
4 NEW ELLAND PARK,
WARSAW,POLAND.

Dear Winner,
Congratulations!
With utmost joy, we are pleased to inform you of the result of the Gee Pee Software Inc. New Year
promo draws held on the 22nd December 2006 which drew a cash prize of $500,000.00. Your e-mail
address attached to Ticket/Code number 0087411652337 with claim/reference number 085093785/06
drew these lucky numbers
007-49746-041-764-64-2091, which consequently won in the 1st category. You have been approved to
receive a cash prize of $500,000.00 (Five hundred thousand USD).

Be advised that due to incessant mix up in cash prize transfer to previous winners, we advise that you
keep your winning information confidential until your claim has been processed and released to you. This
security measure is crucial; its a measure put in place to avoid double claims, transfer and unwarranted
abuse of this program by other participants.

METHOD OF SELECTING WINNERS:
participants were selected anonymously through a private ballot system (computer
ballot) from over 35,000 companies and 70,000 individual e-mail addresses all
over the world. At the final draw your e-mail address emerged as the winner of
our last jackpot.

This is promotional program takes place bi-annually as a means of promoting our rapidly growing
computer software company and also to reward
some individuals and corporations who have devoted their time and resources
surfing the world wide web (www) with their email addresses.And it is promoted and
sponsored by Winning.com and the telecom giant O2.

Remember, all winnings must be claimed not later than 7 working days from today.
After the expiration of that time frame, if your funds are unclaimed, it will be
refunded to us and included in our next draws.

Lastly, in order to avoid unnecessary delays/complications with the transfer of
your funds to you, please always remember to quote your Code number in all
correspondence with our paying bank (Rabo Bank-Amsterdam,The Netherlands). Furthermore,should
there be any change of your present address, please notify us immediately so we can make the
appropriate adjustment.
Congratulations from the management and staff of Gee Pee Software, Winning.com & O2
-----------------------------------------------------
Kindly, immediately, contact our Paying Bank (Rabo Bank-Amsterdam) for your payment advice.
Send them following e-mail:

I ..................................
with e-mail address:...............
contact address:....................
Ticket and code number:................,..........................
the winner of the Gee Pee Software, Winning.com & O2 lottery promotion
cash prize of $500,000.00. Kindly advise me with details of the process of the
transfer of my cash prize within the next 7-working days.

Contact details of our Paying Bank:

Contact person: Vincent Duke
Department of Private Banking,
Rabo Bank,
E-mail: vincenduke@o2.pl , OR
vincenduke@bankersmail.com OR

Telefax: +31-847-421-262
Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Congratulations.
Yours in services,
Claudia Vaughn.
(Lottery Coordinator)

Anti-fraud resources: