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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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.

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: "Paloma Williams" <mrs_palomawilliams@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: charleswilson008@netscape.net
Date: Sat, 12 Nov 2005 10:09:45 +0000
Subject: Claim

Internet lottery
(Under International and Swiss Lotto)
18 Coborn Road, Docklands,
London, E3 2DA, UK.


REF NUMBER: 014/061/500
BATCH NUMBER: 962901-PCF03

Sir/Madam,
We are pleased to inform you of the result of your selection as one of the
five winners of the International Lottery/games promotion held on the 25th
of October, 2005. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number
27522465896-6453 with serial number 3772-554, which consequently won in the
1st category and you have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of
£1,000,000.00. (ONE MILLION Pounds).

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

After randomly selecting over 200,000 companies and organizations as well as
2,000,000 individual email addresses as participants from an initial
database of about 2,500,000 emails. All participants were selected through a
computer ballot system from the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Canada, Europe,
USA and South America as part of our International Promotions Program, which
was conducted in view of launching ourselves into the Sweepstakes Industry
Worldwide 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 five lucky winners of the Grand Draw prize.
This lottery was promoted and sponsored by eminent personalities like the
Sultan of Brunei, Bill Gate and many others notable philanthropists who wish
to remain anonymous. We therefore look forward to your active participation
in our next year 50 Million Pounds slot where we shall extensively advertise
and solicit for individual participation at a minimal fee.
However, to process your claim please contact the clearance office via the
contact person on his information below with your winning number as well as
the reference number for further verification.

Clearance officer,
Mr. Charles Wilson
Tel: +44 7031927130
Fax: +44 8719940394
Email: charleswilson008@netscape.net
charleswilson@caramail.com

NOTE: You are automatically disqualified if you are below 18 years of age.
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/winners.
Please note in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, remember
to quote your reference number and batch numbers in all correspondence.

Sincerely yours,
Mrs. Paloma Williams
(Lottery Coordinator)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam