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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: australian lottery notifications <co_or_dinator17@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <franklin_hanks@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2007 14:51:49 -0400
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR WINNINGS






Date:18/10/2007Ref: 575061725Batch: 8056490902/188Winning no: GB8701/LPRCCONGRATULATIONSDear Lucky Winner,We are delighted to inform you of your prize release on the18th, october, 2007 from the Australia Lottery programme. Which is fully based on an Electronic selection of winners using their e-mail addresses Your name was attached to ticket number;47061725 07056490902 serial number 7741137002 This batch draws the lucky numbers as follows 5-13-33-37-42 bonus number 17,which consequently won the lottery in the second category.You hereby have been approved a lump sum pay of US$ 250,000.00 (TWO HUNDERED AND FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS) in cash credit file ref: ILP/HW 47509/06 from the total cash prize of US$4,000,000.00 shared amongst sixteen lucky winners in this category. All participant were selected through a computer balloting system drawn form Nine hundred thousand E-mail addresses from Canada,Australia,United States, Asia, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Oceania as part of our international promotions program which is conducted annually.This Lottery was promoted and sponsored by a conglomorate of some multinational companies as part of their social responsibility to the citizens in the communities where they have operational base. Further more your details (e-mail address) fall within our African representative office in Nigeria,West Africa, as indicated in your play coupon and your prize of US$250,000.00 will be released to you from this regional branch office in Nigeria. We hope with part of your prize, you will participate in our end of year high stakes for US$1 Million international draw.HOW TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE:Simply contact our fiducial agent In Nigeria,Dr.Franklin Hanks by email(franklin_hanks@yahoo.com) ,or call TEL, +234 8034767852 . To file for your claim.NOTE:Quote your reference, batch and winning number which can be found on the top left corner of this notification as well as your full name, address and telephone number to help locate your file easily.For security reasons, we advice all winners to keep this information confidential from the public until your claim is processed and your prize released to you.This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted taking advantage of this programme by non-participant or unofficial personnel.All winnings MUST be claim 9th november 2007 otherwise all funds will be returned as Unclaimed.Congratulations lucky winnersBest RegardsMrs. Michelle Davidson(co-ordinator)
_________________________________________________________________
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