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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: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: shellworldwidegrant@informaticos.com
Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 01:49:53 -0700
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Good_News_your_email_won_=A3691=2C252?=

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Lottery Winners=3CBR=3E= International programs held on the 20TH May=2C2009=2E Your E-mail addres= s attached=3CBR=3Eto ticket number 56475612545-187 with serial number 53= 68/03=2Cbatch=3CBR=3Enumber151085135=2Clottery ref number UK/9420X2/70 a= nd drew lucky numbers 4516 19=3CBR=3E21 4920 which consequently won in t= he1st category=2C You have therefore been=3CBR=3Eapproved to claim a tot= al sum of =A3691=2C252 (Six hundred and ninety one=3CBR=3Ethousand=2C tw= o hundred and fifty two pounds sterling)in cash credited to file=3CBR=3E= KTU/9023118308/07=2EThis is from a total cash prize of =A32=2C073=2C756 = (Two million=2C=3CBR=3Eseventy three thousand=2Cseven hundred and fifty = six pounds sterling)=2C=3CBR=3ECONGRATULATIONS!!!=3CBR=3E=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3CBR=3ERemittance Department Director=2C=3CBR=3EOVERSEAS CLAIMS UNIT=2E= United Kingdom Lottery Fiduciary Contact Person=3A Rev Paul=3CBR=3ECole=3C= BR=3EEmail=3Ashell=5Fworldwide01=40hotmail=2Ecom=3CBR=3EEmail=3Ashellwor= ldwidegrant=40informaticos=2Ecom=3CBR=3ETEL=3A+447031934861=3CBR=3EFAX=2E= +447006048978=3CBR=3E=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3CBR=3EMrs=2E Calister Green=2E!=3C= BR=3EThe Shell Petroleum National! Lottery=3CBR=3E=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D

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