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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: "Edward Cole" <edwardcole21111@rediffmail.com>
Date: 15 Feb 2007 16:25:19 -0000
Subject: YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS HAS LUCKILY WON YOU =?ISO-8859-1?Q?=A3250?=,000.00.CONGRATULATION\'S WINNER.


UK ONLINE LOTTERY NOTIFICATION DESK..GOVERNMENT ACCREDITED LICENSED!!UKONLINE?INTERNATIONAL LOTTERYIS REGISTERED UNDER THE DATA PROTECTION ACT OF;(Registration Z720633X).&nbsp;The UK National Lottery.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; P O Box 1010,L70 1NL Liverpool, UNITED KINGDOM(Customer Services)Batch: 074/05/ZY369Ref: UK/9420X2/68&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; WINNING NOTIFICATIONWe happily announce to you the draw (#963) of the UK NATIONAL LOTTERY, online Sweepstakes International program held on 10th February 2007. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: 5647560054 188 with Serial number 5368/02 jack pot lotto winnersdrew the lucky numbers:(02-10-30-36-37-43-29)\"bonus no 46.which subsequently won\"you the lottery in the 2nd category i.e. match 5 plus bonus.&nbsp;You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of £250,000 (Two hundred and fifty thousand pounds sterling) in cash credited to file KTU/9023118308/03 in a total sum of £1,000,000 lotto jackpot shared amongst the the first four (4) lucky winners in this category i.e. Match 5 plus! Bonus with percentage 16.9% .&nbsp;All participants forthe online version were selected randomly from World Wide Web sites through computer draw system and extracted from over 100,000 unions, associations, and corporate bodies that are listed on! line. This promotion takes place weekly.&nbsp;Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our European booklet representative office in Europe as indicated in your play coupon.In view of this, your £250,000 (Two hundred and fifty thousand pounds sterling) would be released to you by any of our payment offices in Europe.Our European agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your funds as soon as you contact her.&nbsp;For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claims is processed and your moneyremitted to you in whatever manner you deem fit to claim your prize.This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program. Please be warned. To file for your claim, please contact our fiduciary agent:&nbsp;Name:Mrs.Elizabeth GaryEmail: agentelizabethgary01@yahoo.co.uk&nbsp;CONGRATULATIONS from me and members of staff of the UK NATIONAL LOTTERY.&nbsp;Yours faithfully,Edward Cole.Online coordinator for UK NATIONAL LOTTERYSweepstakes International Program.Open 7 days 8am-8pm.

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