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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.

 

 

Fraud email example:

From: "lorita mbella" <loritambella@msn.com>
Reply-To: timakennedy@o2.pl
Date: Thu, 10 Nov 2005 01:38:55 +0000
Subject: AWARD NOTIFICATION

Mega-buck.com
ADDRESS:
107 BILMAPLEINSTRAAT
2987 NZ
AMSTERDAM
NETHERLAND

Sir/Madam,

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the
Lottery Winners International programs held on the
7th Nov, 2005. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number
27522465896-6453 with serial number 3772-554 drew lucky numbers
7-14-18-23-31-45 which consequently won in the 2nd category, you have
therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of Euros 2,500,000(TWO
MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND EUROS).
CONGRATULATIONS!!!

For security purpose and clarity, we advise that you keep your winning
information confidential until your claims have been processed and your
money remitted to you. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double
claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some participants. All
participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from over
20,000 companies and 30,000,000 individual email addresses and names from
all over the world. This promotional program takes place every year.

This lottery was promoted and sponsored by eminent personalities like the
Sultan of Brunei. We look forward to your active participation in our next
year USD50 million slot. You are requested to contact our clearance office
to assist you with the claim and transfer of your winnings fund into your
instructed account by acknowledging the receipt of this mail with the
email address below. Email address:timkennedy@compaqnet.fr

Note that, all winnings must be claimed not later than
one month. After this date all unclaimed funds will be null and void. Please
note in order to avoid unnecessary delays and
complications, remember to quote your reference number and batch
numbers in all correspondence.

Furthermore, should there be any change of address do inform our
agent as soon as possible. Congratulations once more and thank you for being
part of our promotional program.

NOTE: YOU ARE AUTOMATICALLY DISQUALIFIED IF YOU ARE
BELOW 18 YEARS OF
AGE.

Sincerely yours,

TIM KENNEDY
Mega-buck.com
ADDRESS:
107 BILMAPLEINSTRAAT
2987 NZ
AMSTERDAM
NETHERLAND

Sir/Madam,

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the
Lottery Winners International programs held on the
7th Nov, 2005. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number
27522465896-6453 with serial number 3772-554 drew lucky numbers
7-14-18-23-31-45 which consequently won in the 2nd category, you have
therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of Euros 2,500,000(TWO
MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND EUROS).
CONGRATULATIONS!!!

For security purpose and clarity, we advise that you keep your winning
information confidential until your claims have been processed and your
money remitted to you. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double
claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some participants. All
participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from over
20,000 companies and 30,000,000 individual email addresses and names from
all over the world. This promotional program takes place every year.

This lottery was promoted and sponsored by eminent personalities like the
Sultan of Brunei. We look forward to your active participation in our next
year USD50 million slot. You are requested to contact our clearance office
to assist you with the claim and transfer of your winnings fund into your
instructed account by acknowledging the receipt of this mail with the
email address below. Email address:timkennedy@compaqnet.fr

Note that, all winnings must be claimed not later than
one month. After this date all unclaimed funds will be null and void. Please
note in order to avoid unnecessary delays and
complications, remember to quote your reference number and batch
numbers in all correspondence.

Furthermore, should there be any change of address do inform our
agent as soon as possible. Congratulations once more and thank you for being
part of our promotional program.

NOTE: YOU ARE AUTOMATICALLY DISQUALIFIED IF YOU ARE
BELOW 18 YEARS OF
AGE.

Sincerely yours,

TIM KENNEDY


--

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