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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: lucky winners From Lotto company board <mm.ll.tt.ww7@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2007 23:11:24 +0200
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!!!



THE FREE LOTTO COMPANYUK HEAD OFFICESUITE 23-30,LION TOWERSCENTRAL LONDONENGLAND

Dear Winner,

We are please to announce you as one of the 10 lucky winners in the FreeLotto draw held on the 10th of sepember 2007. All 10 winning addresses were randomly selected from a batch of 50,000,000 international emails.Your email address emerged along side 9 others as a category 2 winner in this year's Annual FreeLotto Draw.Consequently,you have therefore been approved for a total pay out of US$500,000 (Five hundred thousand United States dollars) only.

The following particulars are attached to your lotto payment order:
(i) winning numbers: 37-13-43-85-67-11(ii) email ticket number: FL754/22/76(iii) lotto code number: FL09622UK(iv) the file Ref number: FL/04/736207152/UK

Please contact the underlisted claims officer as soon as possible for the immediate release of your winnings:

Mr.ALEX WILLIAMCordinator For AfricaThe Freelotto Companyemail:alexwilliam2007@hotmail.com

N.B:Steps to claiming your prize;1.Please quote your Reference number in all correspondence with the claims officer.2.Winners should send to claim officer account detail or address where they want their prize paid or sent.3.Winners must send thier names,address,telephone number and means of identification (international passport or drivers licence)to claim officer, via email or fax, to process the immediate payment of your prize.
Once again on behalf of all our staff,

CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Sincerely,Julia Simsom Smith.Promotions ManagerThe Lotto companyEurope & AFrica.
_________________________________________________________________
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