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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: "vivian smith" <vivismith109@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 25 Sep 2006 18:18:23 +0200
Subject: CONGRATULATION!!!

EARTHLING PROMOTION BV
Mijtenstraat 175,
Postcode 2526 VC,
Den-Haag,
Netherlands.

Ref: NO: ELPB/1190462.
Ticket NO: EL/218883216.

In view of the yearly sweepstake of the above named organization held on the
23th of September 2006. It is my pleasure to inform you that your e-mail
address attached to the above ballot No came up in the second stake.

This invariably means that you have emerged as the prize recipient in the
second category with an allocated sum of USD$1,000,000.00 (One MillionUnited
States Dollars Only), in the open charity ballot device.

Be informed that all participants were selected from a randon computing
ballot system.

This charitable sweepstake is sponsored by a group of corporate
organizations and governmental parastatals drawn from major cities in
Europe.

As a matter of principle, you are to donate at the minimum one tenth of the
fund to an outstanding charity project in your locality, after the reception
of your fund.

To file for your claim and other enquiries, contact the designated fiducial
consultant; Mrs. Sonia Van Roy, via E-mail (soniavanroy@linq.nl)

Congratulations once more

Faithfully yours'
Vivian Smith (Mrs.)

NB; ensure that your Ballot No is sent in your application to the above
designated office.

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources: