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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: "Island Paradise" <claimsdept_athomas@teamislandparadise.org>
Reply-To: adthom77@uku.co.uk
Date: Fri, 02 Sep 2005 02:05:55 +0000
Subject: FROM I.P.L CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

ISLAND PARADISE LOTTERY
Paradise Office
2 Quay Terrace,
Ramsey,
Isle of Man.
LM8 1BF.

PROMOTIONS MANAGER,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT,
REF NUMBER: PL-IOM/2W2 BATCH NO: 2005/6-05/OBN.


ATTENTION: WINNER

We are pleased to inform you of the announcement of 29th August 2005,
of winners of the PARADISE LOTTO held on the 21st of June, 2005 as part of
our yearly bonanza. Your email, attached to ticket number 654-7002-0, with
serial number 24086-104 drew the lucky numbers 3-4-81-11-19-11, and
consequently won the lottery in category B. You have therefore been
approved for a lump sum pay of £2,000,000(TWO MILLION POUNDS STERLING) in
cash
credited to file REF: PL-IOM/2W2

This is from total prize money of £14,000,000 shared among 7 winners in
this category. All participants were selected through a computer balloting
system drawn from 200,000 emails from Middle East, Asia, Africa, Canada,
Europe and North America and Oceania as part our International Promotions
Program,
which is conducted annually.

CONGRATULATIONS!

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 your prize, you will participate in our 2006
high stakes International Draw. For due processing and remittance of your
prize money to a designated account of your choice, please contact:

CLAIMS AGENT
MR. ADRIAN THOMAS
Email: claimsthomas@uku.co.uk

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 claims 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,
The Promotions Office,
ISLAND PARADISE LOTTERY.

N.B. Any breach of confidentiality on the part of the winners will result to
disqualification. Please do not reply to this mail. Contact your claims
agent.


Anti-fraud resources: