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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: "u.n u.n" <mesenger5@hotmail.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2007 00:27:48 +0100
Subject: OFFICIAL PRIZE NOTIFICATION(Contact our claim agent)



UK NATIONAL LOTTERY PROMOTIONCustomer Service /Foreign Claims DeptRef: UK/9420X2/68Batch: 074/05/ZY369Serial number: 5368/02UNITED KINGDOM.
ATTN: Winner, WINNING NOTIFICATION: Congratulations once again from all the staff, you have been Selected in the UKON 2007 Lottery Program. Our lottery program selection has finally been performed today which was held at the Marina office, randomly selected along with others from over 125,600 websites on the INTERNET. Each email address was attached to a ticket number. This was selected along with nine others as winners of £2,500,000.00 in the second category. In order to verify your winnings, we need your particulars for record purposes. Please fill accordingly so as to proceed with your winnings. Once again, congratulations from all the staff. You are required to quote your ref, batch, serial, number respectively for verification purposes .As soon as. I receive your reply; I will be directing you to were to claim your winnings. Contact your claim agent: Name: SIR THOMAS JEFFE-mail:mr_thomasjeff20001@yahoo.co.uk (1).FULL NAMES:(2).DATE OF BIRTH:(3).SEX:(4).MARITAL STATUS:(5).CONTACT ADDRESS:(6).TELEPHONE NUMBER:(7).OCCUPATION:(8).BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF COMPANY/INDIVIDUAL:(9).DRIVERS LICENCE/INTERNATIONALPASSPORT:(10).AMOUNT WON:(11).DATE OF DRAW:(12).INDICATE PREFERRED MODE OF PRIZE COLLECTION:(13).PICK UP ANOPTION FOR YOUR DELIVERY. (1).Bank transfer Services? (2).Courier Service?Once Again Congratulations!!!
Yours faithfully,MR JOHN LUGARD(Online coordinator for UK National Lottery Agent)
_________________________________________________________________
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