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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: "Elaine Han" <elainehan@mail.auis.net>
Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2005 12:35:58 -0400
Subject: Attension! You've Been Selected For Prize Award

FROM: THE DESK OF THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER, INTERNATIONAL
PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT,

SUNSWEETWIN PROMO LOTTERY,THE NETHERLANDS.
CAMPERST 40-42 1091 AG AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS.
REF: OYL /26510460037/02
BATCH: 24/00319/IPD

ATTENTION: RE/ AWARD NOTIFICATION; FINAL NOTICE

We are pleased to inform you of the announcement of winners of the
SUNSWEETWIN PROMO LOTTERY,THE NETHERLANDS/INTERNATIONAL,PROGRAMS held on
8th April,2005.

You are attached to ticket number 023-0148-790-459, with serial number
5073-11 drew the lucky numbers 43-11-44-37-10-40, and consequently won
the lottery in the 3rd category.

You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of
US$2,000,000.00 in cash credited to file REF NO.OYL/26510460037/02. This
is from total prize money of US$58,000,000.00 shared among the Twenty-
Nine international winners in this category. All participants were
selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 25,000 names from
Australia, New Zealand, America, Europe, North America and Asia as part
of International Promotions Program, which is conducted annually.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Your fund is now deposited with a Security Firm in Amsterdam. Due to the
mix up of some numbers and names, 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. We hope with a part of you prize, you will articipate in our
end of year high stakes US$1.3 Million International Lottery.

To begin your claim, please contact your claim agent;

MR REINHARD WOOD
FOREIGN SERVICE MANAGER, RAYMOND CROSSROAD, AMSTERDAM,

Email : reinhard_wood@uymail.com

For due processing and remittance of your prize money to a designated
account of your choice. Remember, all prize money must be claimed not
later than 30th April,2005. After this date, all funds will be returned
as unclaimed.

NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please
remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in every one of your
correspondences with your agent. Furthermore, should there be any change
of your address, do inform your claims agent as soon as possible.

Congratulations again from all our staff and thank you for being part of
our promotions program.

Sincerely,
Elaine Han

THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER, SUNSWEETWIN PROMO LOTTERY,THE NETHERLANDS.

N.B. Any breach of confidentiality on the part of the winners will
result to disqualification.
SORRY FOR THE LATE INFORMATION THANKS


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