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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: Online coordinator <lotto171@netscape.net>
Date: Fri, 16 Jun 2006 04:55:46 +0200
Subject: Mrs Gloria Galloway:

Lotto. NL
Meppo Holland
(Customer Services)

Government Accredited Licensed lottery promoters.
International Promotions/Prize Award Department
Login to Website: www.lotto.nl

Attn:joewein,
We are please to announce you as one of the 10 lucky winners in the national lottery held on the 3rd
May, 2006. All 10 winning addresses were randomly selected from a batch of 50,000,000 international
emails. Your email address emerged alongside 9 others as a category 2 winner in this year Lotto. NL
game draw Consequently, you have therefore been approved for a total pay out of Euro 500,000 (Five
hundred thousand Euros) only. In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications please remember
to quote your reference number and batch numbers:

1, Batch 9484-9006-0076
2, Ref: 637409467-Nll
3, lucky numbers 1-0960-31-444
4,Telphone number
5,Full names

To file for your claim, please contact your claim officer
Name: Steven cox
Tel: +31 -610023280
Fax: +31-84-714-2435
Email:lotto170@netscape.net

This will enable the officer to send the claim application form (A4) to you the Beneficiary.
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. Remember, all winnings must be claim not later than June 28th, 2006, after this date,
unclaimed funds will be returned to the Lotto. NL

CONGRATULATIONS!

Yours faithfully,
Mrs Gloria Galloway
Online coordinator
Sweepstakes International Program.

Anti-fraud resources: