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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: interlotto2@webmail.co.za
Date: Sat, 25 Jun 2005 14:00:06 +0200
Subject: CONGRATULATION AS A LOTTO WINNER

FROM: THE DIRECTOR OF THE PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT
REF:NO EG/033-20737-750/25/08/03
BATCH: 340/1608/RDL.
ATTENTION:
RE: AWARD NOTIFICATION

We are pleased to inform you of the release of 15th
june,2005 of the result of the sweepstake WORLD INTERNET
LOTTERY Int. promotion programs. Your name attached to the ticket
number 033-20737-750 with serial number 033-05 drew the
lucky number 13-15-16-21-34-36, which consequently won
lottery in the 2nd category. You are therefore been
approved for a lump sum of US$1,400,000.00 (one million
four hundred thousand United states dollars) in cash
credited to the file Nº EG/033-20737-750/05/06/03 this is
from the total cash prize of US$23,800,000.00 twenty-three
million eight hundred thousand United states dollars,
shared among seventeen international winners in this
category.
Your fund is secured under a comprehensive insurance policy
in your name, which permits nobody or group of persons to
subtract from it. Due to mixed up of some numbers and
names. We ask that you keep this award top secrete from
public notice until your claims has been processed and your
money remitted to your nominated account. As this is part
of our security protocol to avoid double claiming or
unwarranted taking of advantage of this program by
participants.
All participants were selected through a computer ballot
system drawn from 25,000 names, from all over the world as
a part of our International promotion program, which we
conduct twice every year. We hope that, with a part of your
prize you will take part in our middle of the year high
stake US$1.3bn lottery. To avoid scam, please contact only
your assigned agent below. You won this lottery because
you subscribed online. Some names were selected via the net
and lottery was played on their behalf to mark world
Internet day. This is part of the program to promote
Internet in the world. To begin your claim, please contact
your claim agent,

MR.SMITH ZUMA the Foreign Service manager of
MONDO SECURITY & FINANCE S.A.
JOHANNESBURG SOUTH AFRICA
TEL +27-83-956-7544
EMAIL=smithzuma200@yahoo.com

for processing and remittance of your money to a designated
account of your choice. Remember all prize money must be
claimed not later than 6 weeks from the date of this notice
after this date all funds will be returned to the
ministerio de economia y hacienda as unclaimed. Note in
order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please
quote your ref. and batch nos. in every correspondence with
your agent. Furthermore, should there be any change of
address, do please inform your claims agent as soon as
possible. Congratulations again from all members of staff
and thank you for being a part of our promotions program.
Yours Sincerely
Thanks
DIRECTOR OF THE PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT


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