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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Rachael Woods{Mrs}" <rwoods@pball.co.uk>
Reply-To: fhiggins_powerball2012@kimo.com
Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2012 10:22:29 +0800
Subject: =?utf-8?b?WW91ICd2ZSBXb24gwqM2MDAsMDAwLjAw?=

POWER BALL LOTTERY PROMO.
P O Box 902 Plymouth, PL4 6AB UNITED
KINGDOM
(Customer Services)
Our Ref: YTH/JBP /August. /12
Your ReF: PBLP/8301Y7/68 Batch: 074/05/TR865

We happily announce to you the draw (#891) of the POWER BALL LOTTERY PROMO,online Sweepstakes International program held on 25th July,2012.Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: 367600316 299 with Serial number 9271/09 drew the lucky numbers: 3, 14, 35, 38, 46 (bonus no 16.),which subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category i.e match5plus bonus.You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of ?600,000.00(Six hundred thousand pound sterling) in cash credited tofile VTZ/1967224603/07.This is from a total cash prize of ?4,800,000.00 shared amongs the(8) lucky winners in this category i.e Match 5 plus bonus.

All participants for the online version were selected randomly from World Wide Web sites through computer draw system and extracted from over 100,000unions,associations, and corporate bodies that are listed online. This promotion takes place weekly. Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our European booklet representative office in Europe as indicated in your playcoupon.

In view of this, your ?600,000.00(Six hundred thousand pound sterling) would be released to you by any of our payment offices in Europe. Our european agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your fundsas soon as you contact him or her. For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claims is processed and your money remitted to you in whatever manner you deem fit to claim your prize. Thisis part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program. Please be warned.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!
You are advise d to k eep this winning very confidential until you receive your lump prize in your account. This is a protective measure to avoid double claiming by people that you may tell.

For further Information about your Winnings,contact our Lottery Claims Agentwith the following contact Address.

Name: Frederick Williams Higgins
Tel: +44 701 007 0357
Official Email: fhiggins_powerball2012@kimo.com

That way your winning certificate and all other relevant documents/paperwork can be prepared for you. You would be required to show an instrument of identification when cashing your cheque i.e. Drivers license or International passport.POWER BALL LOTTERY PROMO.

Please include your winning ticket number and your personal contact information,names, telephone and fax data for the immediate processing of your claims All prizes must be claimed within three weeks.

NOTE: If you are under the age of 18, you are automatically disqualified for this star prize.

Yours faithfully,
Rachael Woods{Mrs}
Online coordinator for POWER BALL LOTTERY
PROMO Sweepstakes
International Program 2012

N.B. Any breach of confidentiality on the part of the winners will result to disqualification. Contact your claims agent whose contact details are stated above

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