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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: williamsmith2010bid@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2007 13:09:19 +0000
Subject: NOTIFICATION OF WINNING

SOUTH AFRICA 2010 WORLD CUP BENEFICIARIES
Dear Lucky W inner
We are please to announce and inform you that you are the lucky winner of a house
in sea point cape town south africa valued at $3.4 million united state dollars, and $1.4 million Dollars in cash.
Your email address was one of the winning address picked in a computer ballot of
frequent email users in the second category sponsored by (FIFA),ABSA, OLD MUTUAL,AFRICA UNION,Metropolitan and many more bodies.
for the 2010 world cup in south africa.This also guaranteed you a free ticked to watch the soccar world cup from the opening ceremony till the end of the tournament.
You are therefore informed to contact the claim officer Mr.William Smith immidiately
to claim your prices immidiately on this phone number.
+27- 742447381;
Congratulation as we expect you to claim your price as soon as possible ,
All price not claimed before the expiration date will be donated and shared amongst the various charity organisation in south africa .

Yours sincerely
William Smith

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