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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.

 

 

Please note about this email:

Fraud email example:

From: "POWERBALL LOTTO" <winners20057@msn.com>
Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2005 10:22:45 +0000
Subject: CONFIRMATION OF WINNING (congratulation!!!)


 
POWERBALL INTER LOTTO. SL PROMO/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT.
ADDRESS: PASEO CASTELLANA 220, 28900 MADRID
REF: PBL/669021-OL
BATCH: 211/45547/BTH
 
ATTENTION: Winner
 
           RE / AWARD NOTIFICATION / PROCESSING ADVICE: BF
The Software AG Foundation is a charitable foundation headquartered in
Frankfurt. Its major aim is to promote music, theatre, art, literature,
projects in the social and political arena with a focus on health, as well
as science, research, and higher education. Most recently the foundation set
up the NEW LOTTERY SCHEME to give out prizes based on COMPUTER BALLOT
SYSTEM. By doing this the foundation seek to encourage the use of Internet
for academic and business pursuits.
 
Be informed of the announcement today, 18th july 2005 of winners of the
SCIENTIFIC GAME PROMO LOTTERY; SPAIN INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS held on 1st January 2005. Your email address attached to ticket number 71-45812637, with serial number 36859535 drew the lucky numbers 7-14-33-36-41-62, and subsequently won the lottery in the 1st category. You have therefore been approved of a lump sum pay out of US$500,000.00 (FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATE DOLLARS) in credited to file REF NO. PBL/669021-OL This is from total prize money of US$12,500,000.00 shared among the international winners in our 1st -5th categories. All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn form 50,000 company email addresses and 35,000,000 individual email addresses from Australia, New Zealand, America, Europe, North America and Asia as part of International Promotions Program, which is conducted annually. CONGRATULATIONS!! Your funds are now in custody of a financial Security company insured in your FILE REFERENCE. 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. This lottery program was promoted by our group of philanthropist headed by Mr. Bill Gates.
 
We hope with part of your prize, you will participate in our end of year
high stakes US$10,000,000 million Dollars International Lottery in the year
Q4 2005. To begin your claim, please contact your file/claim officer: MR.
ROBERT MARTINS, of INTERCONTINENTAL S.L,(MADRID-SPAIN).
 Please be informed that NON RESIDENCE of SPAIN will be
required to procure an Affidavit of Lotto Claim/Court clearance certificate
from the Court in Spain prior to award payment policy of Spanish Gaming
Board as required by the paying Authority.
Please be aware that your Paying Authority will Effect Payment Swiftly upon
satisfactory Report, Verifications and validation provided by this
processing Agent. For due processing and remittance of your winning prize to
designated account of your choice, please treat as urgent. Remember, all
prize money must be claimed NOT LATER than 29th july 2005. After this
date, all funds will be returned as unclaimed. Please, your respond should
be sent via email to(
inter_continental5@k.ro)
 
NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delay 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 claim agent as soon as possible.
Congratulations once again from our team Of staff and thank you for being part of our promotional program.

Note: Anybody under the age of 18 is AUTOMATICALLY DISQUALIFIED.
Sincerely,
MRS.BRENDA WILLIAMS.
(Lottery Coordinator)
--

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