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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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Please note about this email:

Fraud email example:

From: "mssuperpromo jackpot" <mssupermega_promomgt@msn.com>
Date: Thu, 01 Sep 2005 21:15:40 +0000
Subject: AWARD NOTICE (MEET YOUR CLAIMS AGENT)

iMS WORD SUPER MEGA JACKPOT
LOTTERY.PAYMENT CENTER UK
PROCESSING OFFICER:MR.BROWN LEE.
61-70 Southampton Row, Bloomsbury,
London, United Kingdom, WC1B 4AR
DIRECTOR: MR. GABRIEL MARTINS
PHONE #:+44 7031943199
 
DETAILS OF BENEFICIARY
 
ATTN:
This correspondence officially confirms that we are in receipt of instructions relating to the payment of your lottery winnings of GBP5.5,million pounds,(10,464,064.05 USD) MICROSOFT WORD MEGA JACKPOT PROMO is a way of showing appreciation to satisfy the cravings of the ever-growing number of in use of our MS WORD. After randomly selecting 15,000 participants from an initial database of 300,000 emails and zoning all participants by their respective continents from across the globe, we produced an extensive list from which you have emerged as one of the winners of the Promotional Grand Draw prize. Please complete the form below with correct information and email back to us with a return email.Looking forward to your urgent reply.
Yours Faithfully,
Mr.Brown Lee
 THIS SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY THE BENEFICIARY OF THE STATED FUND, FOR VERIFICATION BEFORE TRANSFER.
BENEFICIARY FIRST NAME
BENEFICIARY LAST NAME
RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS
DATE AND PLACE OF BIRTH
TEL. NUMBER
FAX NUMBER
EMAIL ADDRESS
NEXT OF KIN NAME AND ADDRESS
AMOUNT WON
BATCH NUMBER
REFERENCE Nš
OCCUPATION
MARITAL STATUS
DECLARATION:
I...............................................................HEREBY DECLARE THAT THE ABOVE DATA ARE TRUE. IN CASE OF ANY UNFORSEEN CIRCUSTANCE, MY NEXT OF KIN HAS THE RIGHT TO CLAIM MY TOTAL WINNINGS.(SUPER STANDARD AGENT) SHALL ACT AS MY AGENT IN FACILITATING THE TRANSFER OF THE TOTAL FUND TO ME.
DATE........................
(YOUR FULL NAMES).....................................................
.................................................................................................
This email and its attachments are confidential and intended for the exclusive use of the addressee(s).This email and its attachments may also be privileged or protected by legal rules. If you have received this by mistake please let us know by reply immediately and destroy the mail and its attachments without reading, copying or forwarding the contents.

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