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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: "Rose Woods" <woods_uk@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: rosewoodsuk@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Wed, 16 Nov 2005 08:20:13 -0600
Subject: CHILD CARE PROMOTION NOTIFICATION

ATTENTION: REF: OYL /26510460037/02
CHILD CARE PROMOTION
10 NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE,
LONDON WC2N 5BX, THE UNITED KINGDOM.
FROM: THE DESK OF THE DIRECTOR PROMOTIONS,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT,
REF: GUPL/67-AO91652004
WINNING NOTIFICATION
We are pleased to inform you of the announcement today, 16thof
november 2005,of winners of the GRAND UNIVERSAL PROMO held on 26th of
September2005.
Your email address was attached to ticket number 13-2316-5086-477; with
serial number A025-09 drew the lucky numbers 37-13-34-85-56-87, and
consequently won
in category A. You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out
of
US$1,000,000.00 in cash credited to file REF NO.GUPL/67-AO91652004.
This is from total prize money of US$3,000.000.00 shared among the
three international winners in the category A.
All participants were selected through a computer ballot system
drawn from 100,000 companies/individuals from Middle East, Australia,
New Zealand,America,Asia,Europe and North America as part of our
International Promotions Program,which is conducted annually.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Your fund is now deposited with a Security company insured in your
name. 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.
To begin your claim, please respond back to your claims agent;
Mr. Micheal Prost at
michealprost@uk2.net
He will brief you on steps to! be taken for due processing! and re!
mittance of your prize money. Remember, you must contact him using his
mailing address not later than two weeks after this date or funds will
be
returned as
unclaimed.
NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please
remember to quote your reference number in every one of your
correspondences.
Ticket number 13-2316-5086-477
Serial number A025-09
Lucky numbers 37-13-34-85-56-87
File REF NO. GUPL/67-AO91652004
Congratulations again from all our staff and thank you for being part
of our
promotions program.
Sincerely,
Mr.Brian Lloyds
THE DIRECTOR PROMOTIONS,
GRAND UNIVERSAL PROMO
N.B. Any breach of confidentiality on the part of the
Winners will result to disqualification.
Yours,
Rose woodS.


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