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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: "LONDON TOBACCO PROMOTONS" <londontobaccopromo_1205@msn.com>
Date: Tue, 27 Dec 2005 13:39:33 +0000
Subject: LONDON TOBACCO PROMOTIONS [END OF YEAR BONANZA]

FROM:THE DESK OF THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER,
PROMOTIONS
107-109 BUCKINGHAM PALACE ROAD,
VICTORIA,
LONDON SW1W 9SP  INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT
LONDON TOBACCO
REF NO: MELI-T/ 17-F044262312
BATCH: 901/00319/HLP
 
 AWARD WINNING NOTIFICATION:END OF YEAR BONANZA.
 
 We are pleased to inform you of the announcement today of winners of the
LONDON TOBACCO JACKPOT LOTTO WINNINGS,PROGRAMS
held on 27th December,2005.Your company or your personal e-mail
address,is attached to ticket number 9901-0148-790-691,with
serial number 66109-17 drew the lucky numbers 990-11-815-37-10-83,
and consequently won the lottery in the 2nd category.
December,2005.You have therefore been approved for a lump sum
pay out of US$300,000.00 in cash credited to file REF NO:
MELI-T/ 17-F044262312.
 This is from total prize money of US$9,000,000.00 shared
among the Thirty(30)international winners in this category.All
participants were selected through a computer ballot system
drawn form 25,000 names from Australia,New Zealand,America,
Europe,North America and Asia,as part of International
Promotions Program,which is conducted annually.Your fund
has been deposited in an escrow account and 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.
We hope with a part of your prize,you will participate in
our year high stakes US$100.Million International Lottery.
You are required to forward the following details to help facilitate the processing
of your claims and certificate which will facilitate the release of your winnings.
  
   1. Full names. 
   2. Phone number. 
   3. Fax number.
   4. Occupation.
   5. Sex.
   6. Age.
   7. Nationality.  
 
 It is expected that you would forward this information as soon as  possible 
to enable us attend to your winnings. Once we confirm your information, 
your payments would be processed. After you have sent down this information,
a certificate will be prepared for you.This is to be your proof of winning.
Be advised that your winnings would be paid to you in installments of 
$30,000.00 {Thirty Thousand United States Dollars}. This is done because
of the amount won by you, this money would be paid to you on monthly basis
for the next 10 {Ten} months.You are advised to keep your winning  numbers secret
to avoid unscrupulous elements from taking advantage of the situation.
Once again, congratulations.
 To claim your winning prize,you must first contact the
claims department by email:
*******************************************************
Mr. Duke Edwards 
Email; lndn_tbccprmtns@yahoo.co.uk
Fax;+(44)709 286 9330
*******************************************************
For processing and remittance of your prize money to a
designated account of your choice.Remember,all prize money
must be claimed not later than the 3rd January,2006.All funds
not claimed on or before the fixed date will be returned as
unclaimed.
NOTE:In order to avoid unnecessary delays and
complications, please remember to quote your reference and
batch numbers in all correspondences with this office.
Furthermore,should there be any change of your address,do
inform us as soon as possible.Congratulations again from
all our staff for being part of our promotions program.
 Sincerely,
Mrs Jane Littlewood  .
For London Tobacco lotto;
 N.B.Any breach of confidentiality on the part of the winners will
result in disqualification and any winner below the age of 18years
is automatically disqualified.
******************************************************
 THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF HEALTH WARNS THAT SMOKERS ARE LIABLE TO DIE YOUNG. 

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