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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: highveldlottery_sa1@zwallet.com
Date: Wed, 18 May 2005 13:55:48 +0200
Subject: AWARD NOTIFICATION; FINAL NOTICE

BATCH: 31/576809/SAPPD
REF NO: SAR/23457677/2005.

ATTENTION
RE/ AWARD NOTIFICATION; FINAL NOTICE

We wish to inform you of the lottery draws held on 18th of MAY,2005 to
declare the winners of the HIGHVELD LOTTERY SOUTH AFRICA/INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS.
Yourself, attached to ticket number 356-00098-3211-222, with serial number 818-09 drew
the lucky numbers 67-99-777963, and consequently won the lottery. You have
therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of RANDS 10,000,000.00 in cash credited
to file REF NO: SAR/23457677/2005.

This is from total prize money of RANDS 210,000,000.00 shared among the
seventeen international winners in this category. All participants were selected
through a computer ballot system drawn from 17,000 names from Australia, New Zealand,
America, Europe and Middle East and Asia as part of our International Promotions
Program, which is conducted monthly.

CONGRATULATIONS!
Your fund is now available for claim. However 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 promotion. We hope with a part of
your prize, you will participate in our mid year high stakes ZAR100, 000,000
Million International Lottery.

TO BEGIN YOUR CLAIM, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR CLAIM AGENT WITH YOUR FULL
DETAILS i.e YOUR FULL NAMES, YOUR TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS AS WELL AS YOU
CONTACT ADDRESS, THROUGH THIS EMAIL ADDRESS BELOW;

FRANK ZUMA
CLAIMS MANAGER
FOREIGN SERVICE DEPARTMENT,
FAIRLANDS FINANCE SOUTH AFRICA PTY
111 GRAYSTON DRIVE,
SANDTON, JOHANESSBURG
SOUTH AFRICA.
EMAIL: fairlandsa@consultant.com
TELEPHONE: +27-73-492-3404

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 Two Weeks
after notice. 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,
STEPHANIE MELBERG.



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