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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: varah varah <varahtiavant@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 12 Jul 2007 20:34:23 +0200
Subject: YOUR EMAIL WON THE PRIZE





Your Email Won The Prize!From Varah Antonio (Mrs) (Claim Prize)
Email:varahvant@aol.comEuromillones lottery primitiva s.a
PLAZA JUAN CARLOS C-14541
MADRID. SPAIN.
TEL: 00 34 692 394 486REFERENCE #:67/80/IPDBATCH #: EGGS-541-623-782
Sir/Madam,
Being officially assigned to select winners across the globe, the management is pleased to inform you of the result of the €uromillones lotería international E-mail programs held on the 17 June, 2007 and result where release on the 5th July,2007. Your E-mail address attached to ticket number 653-908-321-675 with serial main number 345- 790-241-671 drew lucky star numbers 34-32-90-43-32 which consequently won in the 2nd category, you have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of €1.500.000.00, with REFERENCE #:67/80/IPD and BATCH #: EGGS-541-623-782.
Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep your winning information confidential until your claims have been processed and your money remitted to you. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some participants. All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from over 100,000 company and 50,000,000 individual email addresses and names from all over the world.This lottery was promoted and sponsored by Software Companies in order to enhance and promote the use of Internet Explorer Users and Microsoft-wares around the globe.
To file for your claim, please contact our fiduciary agent:
ANTONIO MARTINS ,the Foreign operations manager of GLOBAL FORTUNE SECURITY COMPANY, S. A. On Tel: 00 34 600 373 954, Fax: 00 34 657 548 514
email:martinsglblfrtn@aol.com.Congratulations once more from our members of staff and thank you forbeing part of our promotional program.
Sincerely,Mrs. Varah Antonio.International Online Co-coordinator

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