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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: "UKNATIONAL LOTTERY" <angelaheyes25@hotmail.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 04 Jun 2007 15:06:29 +0000
Subject: NATIONAL LOTTERY DRAW

THE NATIONAL LOTTERY
P O BOX 1010
LIVERPOOL, L70 1NL
UNITED KINGDOM                 
(CUSTOMER SERVICES)
REF: UK/9420X2/68/MO
BATCH: 074/05/ZY369/MO
 
                                       WINNING NOTIFICATION
 ATTN:
 
UK NATIONAL LOTTERY ONLINE SWEEPSTAKES INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM HAPPILY ANNOUNCES THE LOTTERY DRAWS HELD ON 2ND OF JUNE 2007.
YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS ATTACHED TO TICKET NUMBER: 56475600545188/MO WITH SERIAL NUMBER 5368/02/MO DREW THE LUCKY NUMBERS:
 
WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY WON YOU THE LOTTERY IN THE 2ND CATEGORY
YOU HAVE THEREFORE BEEN APPROVED TO CLAIM A TOTAL SUM OF £850,000.00 (EIGHT HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND POUNDS STERLING) IN CASH CREDITED TO FILE KTU/9023118308/03/MO.   
 
IN VIEW OF THIS, YOU HAVE THEREFORE BEEN APPROVED TO CLAIM A TOTAL SUM OF £850,000.00 (EIGHT HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND POUNDS STERLING) AND WOULD BE RELEASED TO YOU BY OUR PAYMENT OFFICE.
 
PLEASE NOTE THAT YOUR LUCKY WINNING NUMBER FALLS WITHIN OUR AFRO BOOKLET REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE IN JOHANNESBURG SOUTH AFRICA AS INDICATED IN YOUR PLAY COUPON.
 
ALL PARTICIPANTS FOR THE 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 ONLINE. THIS LOTTERY TAKES PLACE WEEKLY.
 
OUR CLAIM AGENTS WILL IMMEDIATELY COMMENCE THE PROCESS TO FACILITATE THE RELEASE OF YOUR FUNDS AS SOON AS YOU CONTACT THEM.
 
FOR SECURITY REASONS, YOU ARE ADVISED TO KEEP YOUR WINNING INFORMATION CONFIDENTIAL TILL YOUR CLAIMS IS PROCESSED AND YOUR MONEY REMITTED 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 IN SOUTH AFRICA:
MR. GREG SPENCER
TEL: +27-72-523-2545
FAX: +27-11-725-2009
 
GOOD LUCK FROM ME AND STAFF OF THE UK NATIONAL LOTTERY.
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
MRS. ANGELA HEYES.
ONLINE COORDINATOR FOR UK NATIONAL LOTTERY
SWEEPSTAKES INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM.
 


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