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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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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "europw" <europwonxu@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2006 06:09:16 +0500
Subject: NEW YEAR BONANZA ( YOU HAVE WON )


EUROPW LOTTO SWEEPSTAKE (NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL
INTERNET EXTRA AWARD PROGRAM),
FROM: THE DESK OF THE PROMOTIONAL LOTTERY COORDINATOR,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/ PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT.
KROPAAR STRAAT 34, 1032LA,
AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS
Ref. Number: B3R/102/633/2006
Batch Number: 027/310-BR12

ELECTRONIC MAIL AWARD WINNING NOTIFICATION / PROCESSING ADVICE: ELP
Dear winner,
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Lottery Winners International programs held on the 16th January, 2006. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number 1042896-9061 with serial number A001460 drew lucky numbers 12-0-17-31-60- 75-6 which consequently won in the 1st category, you have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of 1,500,000.00 Euros (One Million Five Hundred Thousand Euros)
Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep your winning information confidential until your claims has 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.
You will need to have your identification documents and claims form notarized by the fiduciary agent (below) before a magistrate or notary public in The Netherlands.
All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from over 10,000,000 companies and 30,000,000 individual email addresses and names from all over the world, names from Australia, New Zealand, America, Europe, North America, Middle East, Africa and Asia as part of International Promotions Program. This promotional program takes place once a year.
This lottery is promoted by the software and internet giant corporations to compensate some few individuals with website and email addresses, we hope with part of your winning you will take part in our next year EUR10 million international lottery. Please note that your lucky winning numbers falls within our European booklet representative office in Europe as indicated in
your play coupon to file in for your claims, please contact the company processing officer.
Mr. Bruijne Hubert,
Claims processing manager
EUROPW LOTTO PLUS
europwlotterij@netscape.net
Tel: +31 618 839 920
Fax: +31 847 197 528
Please note in order to avoid unnecessary delays and Complications please 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 from our members of staff for being part of our promotional program.
Sincerely yours,
Mrs. Anna-maria Vanbel.
Lottery Coordinator
EuroPW Lottery Program.

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