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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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Fraud email example:

From: "DENNIS COLE" <primitiva_sweepstake@juno.com> (may be fake)
Date: Tue, 14 Sep 2004 17:55:29 +0200
Subject: AWARD WINNING NOTICE

LOTERIA PRIMITIVA SWEEPSTAKE PROMOTION.
CALLE/BUSMAN EL-BUENO, 13728007 MADRID SPAIN.
FROM: THE DESK OF THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT, REF: LP/26510460037/02 BATCH: 24/00319/IPD AWARD NOTIFICATION FINAL NOTICE.
WE ARE PLEASE TO INFORM YOU OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE WINNERS OF LOTTERY PRIMITIVA SWEEPSTAKES/INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS HELD ON 15th JULY 2004.YOUR CONTACT IS ATTACHED TO THE TICKET NUMBER 004-05117963-198, WITH SERIAL NUMBER 99375 DREW THE LUCKY NUMBERS 01-15-37-38-48-49 AND CONSEQUENTLY WON THE LOTTERY IN CATEGORY 1B. YOU HAVE BEEN THEREFORE APPROVED THE SUM OF EUR1,000,500.00(ONE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED EUROS)CREDITED TO THE FILE NUMBER: LP/2656043/ES/104 THIS IS FROM THE TOTAL PRICE MONEY OF EUR31.472.765.00 SHARED AMONG THE TWENTY THREE LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL WINNERS IN ALL CATEGORIES. ALL PARTICIPANTS WERE SELECTED THROUGH COMPUTER BALOTTING SYSTEM DRAWN FROM 45,000.00 NAMES FROM AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, AFRICA, EUROPE,AMERICA AND ASIA AS PART OF OUR INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION PROGRAM WHICH IS CONDUCTED EVERY TWO YEARS.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
YOUR FUND IS NOW INSURED TO YOUR CONTACT. DUE TO THE COMPUTER MIX-UP OF SOME NUMBERS AND CONTACTS, WE ASK YOU TO KEEP THIS AWARD STRICKLY FROM PUBLIC NOTICE UNTILL YOUR CLAIM HAS BEING PROCESSED AND YOUR MONEY REMITTED TO YOUR NOMINATED ACCOUNT.THIS IS PART OF OUR SECURITY ADVICE TO AVOID DOUBLE CLAIMING OR UNSCRUPULOUS ACTS BY THE PARTICIPANTS OF THIS PROGRAM. YOU ARE TO CONTACT THE UNDERSIGNED, SINCE ALL WE HAVE NOW IS THE WINNING TICKET NUMBER AND YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS WHICH WAS ATTACHED TO THE WINNING TICKET NUMBER.FOR DUE PROCESSING AND REMITTANCE OF YOUR AWARD PRICE, YOU ARE TO REPLY THIS MAIL STATING YOUR NUMBERS. DO NOTE THAT ALL PRICE MUST BE CLAIM NOT LATER THAN 21st OCT. 2004. AFTER THIS DATE, ALL FUNDS WILL BE RETURNED AS UNCLAIMED TO THE MINISTRY.
NOTE: IN ORDER TO AVOID UNNECESSARY DELAY AND COMPLICATIONS,PLEASE QOUTE YOUR REFERENCE AND BATCH NUMBERS IN EVERY OF YOUR CORESPONDENCE. FURTHERMORE,SHOULD THERE BE ANY CHANGE OF YOUR ADDRESS DO INFORM THIS OFFICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. CONGRATULATIONS
AGAIN FROM ALL OUR STAFF.
SINCERELY
JOHN HARRISON
+34-627-128-221: CALL NOW FOR CONFIRMATION. SEND ANOTHER COPY OF YOUR REPLY TO THE FOLLOWING: award_2004@winning.com



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