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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: swiss lotto <brendstass202@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2007 15:12:34 -0400
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS! YOU WON I MILLION USD



CONGRATULATIONS! YOU WON I MILLION USDWINNING NOTIFICATIONSWISS-LOTTO ONLINE GAMINGGENEVA,SWITZERLAND.https://www.swisslotto.chDear Winner, Congratulations!
With utmost joy, we are pleased to inform you of the result of the SWISS-LOTTO promotional draws held on the 27th August 2007 which drew a cash prize of $1,000,000.00.Your e-mail address attached to Ticket/Code number 52516723847192 with claim/reference number 724285237/07 drew these lucky numbers 225-53-311-89-6295, which consequently won in the 1st category. You have been approved to receive a cash prize of $1,000,000.00 (One million USD).Dueto incessant mix up in cash prize transfer to previous winners, we advise that you keep your winning information strictly confidential until your claim has been processed and released to you. This security measure is crucial;its a measure put in place to avoid double claims, transfer and unwarranted abuse of this programby other participants.If due to your own carelessness some other person gets access to the winning infomation above and files for claim before you then you may have lost the winning.
METHOD OF SELECTING WINNERS:
participants were selected anonymously through a private ballot system (computer ballot) from over 35,000 companies and 70,000 individual e-mail addresses all over the world. At the final draw your e-mail address emerged as the winner of our last jackpot.This promotional program takes place bi-annually as a meansof promoting and raising public awareness to our rapidly growing online gaming company.And it is also co-sponsored by Winning.com and the telecom giant O2.Hence this sweepstake also serve as promotion for the services offerred by the sponsors aforementioned.
Remember, all winnings must be claimed not later than 7 working days from the date you contact the payment agent to notify them of your claim.---------------------------------------------------------------------Due to a complicated tax , legal and payout systems here in Switzerland,the approved paying agent for this sweepstake is in Amsterdam,The Netherlands.So do kindly, immediately, contact our approved Paying Agent in Netherlands for your payment advice.Send them the following e-mail:
I ..................................with e-mail address:...............contact address:....................Ticket and code number:................,..........................the winner of the Swiss-Lotto , Winning.com & O2 lottery promotioncash prize of $1,000,000.00. Kindly advise me with details of the process of the transfer of my cash prize within the next 7-working days.
Contact details of our Paying Agent:BMB Finance Service,E-mail: bmbfnl@cbgb.netTele:+31-62-474-6942Fax: +31-847-36-8943Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
On reciept of this notification do endeavour to contact the approved and authorised paying agent indicated above as your lump sum cash winning,verification and payment instructions have already been forwarded to them.
Congratulations.
Yours in services,Brenda Stass.(Lottery Coordinator)



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