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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: "Irish Lottery" <irishlottery_notification003@msn.com>
Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2005 04:10:44 +0000
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!!!


                                                                                

The Irish Lottery
47 Meadow Vale,
Sligo, Ireland.
Ref: LSUK/2031/8161/05
Batch: R3/A312-59

SUCCESS ALERT:

CONGRATULATIONS!!!


We are pleased to announce to you the draw of the IRISH LOTTERY PROGRAMME online Sweepstakes International Program held on FRIDAY 20TH DECEMBER 2005.

Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: 56475600545 188 with Serial number 5368/05 drew the lucky number: 17 which
subsequently won the LOTTO PLUS 1 prize. You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of 442,000.00 Euros (Four hundred and
forthy two Thousand Euros) in cash credited to file KTU/9023118308/05 of Irish Lottery.


All participants for the online version were selected randomly from the World Wide Web through a computer draw system and extracted from over 100,000 unions, associations, and corporate bodies that are listed online.This promotion takes place weekly.
Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our European booklet representative office in Europe as indicated in your play
coupon. In view of this, your 442,000.00 Euros would be released to you by any of our payment offices in Europe(UK).

To file for your claim contact the verification department:
Email: verificationcentre1@cooperation.net

That way your Winnings Certificate and all other relevant documents/paperwork can be prepared for you. Note that all prize funds
must be claimed not later than One month. After this date all funds will be returned to the LOTTERY TREASURY as unclaimed. In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please endeavor to quote your Reference Number( LSUK/2031/8161/05) and Batch Number(R3/A312-59)in every correspondence with your agent.

Furthermore, should there be any change in your address, do inform your claims agent as soon as possible.


For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claims is processed and your money remitted to
you in whatever manner you deem fit to claim your prize. This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted
abuse of this program. Please be warned.
Good luck from me and members of staff of the IRISH LOTTERY.

Yours faithfully,

Mercy Mcwilliams(MRS).

Online Co-ordinator for IRISH LOTTERY SWEEPSTAKE PROGRAMME

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