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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.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "URBAN LOTTO" <urban_lotto005@msn.com>
Date: Thu, 27 Oct 2005 14:03:08 +0000
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION

FROM THE DESK OF THE VICE PRESIDENT.
THE NATIONAL LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD.
MR MAC HERMAN
BATCH: EGS/ 22504002/04: REFERENCE: 15/0018/IPD

RE:WINNING NOTIFICATION

This is to inform you of the release of THE NATIONAL LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL
PROMOTIONS PRIZE DRAW, held on the 30th of march 2005, but owing to some mix
up of numbers and addresses and the holidays, the results were released on
the 27th oct,2005.Your name was attached to ticket number 085-12876077-09
with serial number 51390-0 that drew the lucky numbers of 03-05-12-14-38,
which consequently won the lottery in the 5th category. You have therefore
been approved for a lump sum pay of $1,000,000.00. (ONE MILLION UNITED
STATES DOLLARS ONLY), in cash credited to file with REF:
º.EGS/3662367114/13. This is from a total cash prize of$80,020.225.00,
shared among the (25) twenty-five international winners in this category.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Your fund is now deposited with a abbey national bank and insured in your
name. Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep this
award from public notice until your claim has been processed, and the money
remitted to your account, as this is part of our security protocol, to avoid
double claiming and unwarranted taking of advantage of this program by
participants, as had happened in the past. All participants were selected
through a computer ballot system drawn from 25,000 names, email addresses &
official addresses, from Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, North and
South America, Middle East and Africa, as part of our International
Promotions Program.

We hope your lucky name will draw a bigger cash prize in the subsequent
programs. To begin your lottery claims, please contact your Claims Agent,

MR.JOHN WILLIAMS,
FOREIGN OPERATION MANAGER,
ABBEY NATIONAL BANK PLC,
EMAIL: john_williams_5000@yahoo.com

Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later than a month from the
day of receipt of your notification. Any claim not made by this date will be
returned to the DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY. And also be informed that 10% of
your lottery winning belongs to (the PROMOTIONS COMPANY). Because they are
the company that bought your ticket and played the lottery in your name.
Note also that this 10% will be remitted after you have received your
winnings prize,because the money is insured in your name already.

NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications,please remember
to quote your reference and batch numbers in all correspondences with us; or
your Claim Agent. Furthermore, should there be any change of address, please
do inform your Claim Agent as soon as possible. An original copy of your
lucky winning ticket and your deposit certificate will be sent to you by
your Claim Agent,john williams(john_williams_5000@yahoo.com)
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Once again from all members of our staff and thank you for being a part of
our International Promotions program. We wish you continued good fortunes.

Sincerely,
mac herman (MR),
VICE PRESIDENT


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