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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: "POWERBALL EURO E-MAIL" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mckinley.celine@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Thu, 12 Dec 2013 02:22:12 -0800
Subject: NOTICE...CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
POWERBALL EURO E-MAIL
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPT
BATCH NO: PBL/67189098011/245679/1109REF.
NO: PBL/11278998789/908796//1109

Dear Winner,

This is to inform you of the release of the E-MAIL LOTTERY BALLOT INTERNATIONAL/WORLD GAMING BOARD. Your name attached to ticket number 219028657434 with Serial number 918735625 drew the lucky numbers 2, 36, 40, 49, 54, 10, which consequently won the lottery in the 1st category. You have just won yourself the sum of $1,000,000.00 the satellite software email lottery conducted by POWER BALL EURO E-MAIL INTERNATIONAL in which e-mail addresses are picked randomly by software powered by the Internet. Your email address was among those chosen in this quarter and you are required to reply to this e-mail to confirm acceptance of your prize.

Sincerely,
Celine Mckinley

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