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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: OMEGA LOTTERY <lotowork@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2007 16:16:46 +0200
Subject: AWARD NOTIFICATION FINAL NOTICE.



THE DIRECTOR OF THE PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENTREF: NO EG/033-20737-750/25/08/03BATCH: 340/1608/RDL. DEAR,
AWARD NOTIFICATION FINAL NOTICE.We are pleased to inform you of the release of February, 2007 of the result of the sweepstake WORLD INTERNET LOTTERY Int.promotion programs. Your name attached to the ticket number 033-20737-750 with serial number 033-05 drew the lucky number 13-15-16-21-34-36 which consequently won lottery in the 2nd category.You are therefore been approved for a lump sum of US$800,000.00 (Eight Hundred Thousand United states dollars) in cash credited to the file Nº EG/033-20737-750/05/06/03. This is from the total cash prize of US$23,800,000.00 twenty-three million eight hundred thousand Unitedstates dollars, shared among seventeen international winners in this category.Your fund is secured under a comprehensive insurance policy in your name, which permits nobody or group of persons to subtract from it. Due to mixed up of some numbers and names. We ask that you keep this award top secrete from public notice until your claims has been processed and your money remitted to your nominated account. As this is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming or unwarranted taking of advantage of this program by participants.All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 25,000 names, from all over the world as a part of our International promotion program which we conduct twice every year. We hope that, with a part of your prize you will take part in our end of the year highstake US$1.3bn lottery. To avoid scam, please contact only your assigned agent below.You won this lottery because you subscribed online. Some names were selected via the net and lottery was played on their behalf to mark world Internet day. This is part of the program to promote Internet in the world. To begin your claim, please contact your claim agent MR MICHAEL DAVID OF BRUCE AGENCY & CONSULTING(PTY) SOUTH AFRICA on his EMAIL: midavaza4@yahoo.com,for processing and remittance of your money to a designated account of your choice.Remember all prize money must be claimed not later than 6 weeks from the date of this notice after this date all funds will be returned to the ministerio de economia hacienda as unclaimed. Note in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please quote your ref. and batch nos. in every correspondence with your agent.Furthermore, should there be any change of address, do please inform your claims agent as soon as possible. Congratulations again from all members of staff and thank you for being a part of our promotions program.Yours SincerelyMR V.BROWN.
_________________________________________________________________
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