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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: "Luxatrel Award Promotion" <s_carpenter1156@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: wallacehopkins@strompost.com
Date: Sun, 01 Apr 2007 13:09:20 +0000
Subject: BONUS PROMOTION PRIZE AWARDS

LUXATREL INTERNATIONAL SWEEPSTAKES,
102 Bury New Rd, Whitefield, United Kingdom
London.
 
Ref:BUUSL/941OYI/02/IMES
Batch: 14/33/1166
 
Dear Lucky Winner,
  
RE: BONUS LOTTERY PROMOTION PRIZE AWARDS WINNING NOTIFICATION
 
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the just concluded annual final draws of LUXATREL  HIGH-STAKE INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY PROGRAM.
 
The online Cyber Lotto Email draws was conducted by a random selection of email addresses from an exclusive list of 500,000 E-mail addresses of individuals and corporate bodies picked by an advanced automated random computer search from the internet. However, no tickets were sold but all email addresses were assigned to different ticket numbers for representation and privacy.
 
After this automated computer ballot, your e-mail address emerged as one of twelve winners in the first category with the following data
 
Ref:BUUSL/941OYI/02/IMES
Batch: 14/33/1166
Ticket Number: 025-11464992-750
 
You as well as the other winners are therefore to receive a cash prize of USD$1,000,000.00 (ONE MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS) each from the total payout.
 
Your prize award has been insured with your e-mail address and will be transferred to you upon meeting the requirements, statutory obligations, verifications, validations and satisfactory report.
 
To begin the claims processing of your prize winnings you are advised
to contact our licensed and accredited claims agent/security company
for first category winners with the information below:
 
Mr. Wallace Hopkins,
Foreign Services Manager,
Payment and Release Order Dept.
Tel:+44 703 5900 925
     +44 703 5900 928
Email:wallacehopkins@strompost.com

NOTE: All winnings must be claimed within 10 days from today. After this date all unclaimed funds would be included in the next stake.Remember to quote your reference information in all correspondence with your claims agent.
 
You are to keep all lotto information away from the general public especially your reference and ticket numbers. (This is important as a case of double claims will not be entertained).
 
Members of the affiliate agencies are automatically not allowed to participate in this program.
 
Thank you and congratulations!!!
 
Yours faithfully,
Smith Carpenter.
Games/Lottery Coordinator.
 
This email may contain information which is confidential and/or privileged. The information is intended solely for the use of the individual or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient, be aware that any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of the contents is prohibited. If you have received this electronic transmission in error,please notify the sender by telephone or return email and delete the material from your computer


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