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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: "Trevor George" <trgeorg@centrum.sk>
Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:02:00 +0200
Subject: ATTENTION LUCKY WINNER OF GBP1.500.000.00.


FROM: THE DESK OF THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER, TIENS LOTTERY PROMOTIONS, UK.

Dear Winner, AWARD NOTIFICATION/FINAL PAYMENT NOTICE.

We are pleased to inform you of the announcement today, 20th August, 2008, of Winners of the TIENS LOTTERY PROMO, UNITED KINGDOM. draws held on 9th August, 2008. Your email address attached to ticket number: 977-9662-855-244, with serial number : 0336-79 drew the lucky numbers : 00-47-12-98-44-33, and consequently won the lottery in the 3rd category.

You have therefore been approved for lump sum pay out of (GBP1.500.000.00) One Million, five hundred thousand British Pounds in cash credited to Reference number : 095574118088™ TIENS. This is from total prize Money Of (£25.500.000.00) Twenty-Five Million, five hundred thousand British Pounds shared among the seventeen International winners in this category.

All participants were selected through a computer Ballot System drawn from 25,000 email addresses from Australia, New Zealand, America, Europe, North America and Asia as Part of International Promotions Program, which is Conducted Annually.

To begin your claim, quote your Reference and provide us with the following information to our Director, Claims/Remittance Department:
Mrs. Agnes Brown. Email: agbrown21@yahoo.com

YOUR REFERENCE NUMBER
YOUR FULL NAME:
AGE/ SEX:
PROFESSION:
CONTACT ADDRESS:
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:
TELEPHONE&amp; FAX NUMBER: 
Forward the above information to Mrs. Agnes Brown. Email: agbrown21@yahoo.com
We shall proceed with the processing of your winning as soon as the needed information is received.

Congratulations.

Yours faithfully,

Mr. Trevor George.



Anti-fraud resources: