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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: Online Sweepstakes®<megamillionpicknplay@luckymail.com>
Date: Thu, 15 Apr 2010 14:20:31 GMT
Subject: Final Notice


CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This email may contain material
protected and governed by the Lotto Portability and
Accountability Act of 1956 DLG/47/001/56.As such, this e-mail is only
for the personal and confidential use of the individuals to which
it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient, you are
notified that you have received this document in error, and that
any distributing, copying or disclosure is unauthorized, delete
this email immediately. If you are the winner of megamillion
Picknplay lotto of 06/03/2010 with Reference Number MPNP/03/1201
contact immediately andrewsmith@games.com or +39 3881945534
submitting your document of identification for claims and transfer
of the award prize of 581,871.00Euros. Do remember that this is the
last notification.
Regards,

Lucy Anna Gerbido
Claims Director
NEVER SEND SPAM. IT IS BAD.

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