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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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: visionball_01@handbag.com
Date: Mon, 21 Mar 2005 14:36:47 +0100
Subject: AWARD WINNING NOTIFICATION

VISION BALL LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL - PROMOTIONAL PROGRAM
ADDRESS: DAALWIJK 873, 1002 AA,
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS.

REF: PLI/7675213911
BATCH: 6300/P45/FD

Attn:Winner

RE AWARD NOTIFICATION / PROCESSING ADVICE

This is to announce today, 21st March2005 result of winners of our yearly
SCIENTIFIC LOTTERY GAME PROMOTION held on 21st Febuary, 2005.
Your email address attached to ticket number 05-765204AC; with serial number
00349 draw the lucky numbers 5-9-31-20, and consequently won the lottery
in category A. You are therefore entitled to a cash award US$1,500,000 (ONE
MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND USD), file REF NO. MLI/PP2005-001. This is
from total prize money of US$12, 000,000.00 shared among the international
winners in our category A-C.

All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from
15,000 company email addresses and 35,000,000 individual email addresses
from across the Globe as part of International Promotional Program, which
is conducted annually. CONGRATULATIONS! Your fund is now in custody of a
Financial Security company insured in your FILE REFERENCE. Due to the mix
up of some email addresses, we ask that you keep this award strictly from
public notice until your claim has been processed and your money remitted
to your account. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming
or unscrupulous acts by participants of this program.

This lottery program was organized by our group of philanthropist promoted
and sponsored by Mr. Bill Gates of Microsoft Inc, eminent personalities like
the sultan of Brunei, Multi Choice and other corporate Organisations.This
lottery program was organized to improving the use of computer software's
and for the benefit of every Microsoft user.

To file for your claim,please contact our fiducial agent:
MR ANTHONIE VAN HEIM, OF GULF ATLANTIC S A.
Email address:gulf_atlantic@mail2netherlands.com
TEL: +31 616 282 664

Yours Sincerely.
MRS. RUBERT VAN BUREN
DIRECTOR OF PROMOTIONAL PROGRAM

___________________________________________________________

Book yourself something to look forward to in 2005.
Cheap flights - http://www.tiscali.co.uk/travel/flights/
Bargain holidays - http://www.tiscali.co.uk/travel/holidays/





___________________________________________________________

Book yourself something to look forward to in 2005.
Cheap flights - http://www.tiscali.co.uk/travel/flights/
Bargain holidays - http://www.tiscali.co.uk/travel/holidays/



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