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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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.

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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash)
• This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
  
  1. They don't notify winners by email.
  2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
  3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
  4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
  5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
  6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
  7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +34620601591 (Spain, prepaid mobile phone)
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • europeanlotterycommission3@web2mail.com

Fraud email example:

From: MR TERA COLLY <europromolotto1@netscape.net>
Reply-To: europeanlotterycommission3@web2mail.com
Date: Mon, 20 Feb 2006 19:57:00 +0100
Subject: MRS TERA COLLY,CORDINATOR EUROPEAN LOTTERY WINNER


EUROPEAN LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL.
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION PROGRAM.
FROM: THE PROMOTION DIRECTOR
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS DEPT.

EUROPEAN LOTTERY COMMISSION ANNIVERSARY

This is to inform you of the release of email balloting held on the 1ST FEBRUARY, 2006 ,
by EUROPEAN LOTTERY COMMISSION ANNIVERSARY.For the first time ever EUROPEAN LOTTERY COMMISSION have decided to celebrate it's 101 anniversery by awarding €1,000,000.00 (ONE MILLION EUROS)
each to 20 lucky winners who were selected through a computer ballot
system drawn from only Microsoft users from over 30,000.00 companies
and 5,000,000 individual email addresses and names from all over the world.
However, the results were released on 5TH FEBRUARY,2006 and your
email was among the 20 Lucky winners who won €1,000,000.00 each on
the 101 anniversery of the EUROPEAN LOTTERY COMMISSION, and your email
was attached to Ticket Number RR38844240 and Ballot number 00147.

In other to claim your €1,000,000.00 prize winning, which has been
deposited in a designated bank. However,you will have to fill the form
below and send it to the Promotion manager of this Lottery commission for
verification and then you will be directed to the bank where a cheque of
€1,000,000.00 has already been deposited in your favour.

NAME:.....................................
AGE:........................................
SEX:.........................................
ADDRESS:................................
EMAIL:.....................................
PHONE:................................,,,,
OCCUPATION:..........................
COMPANY:..............................
COUNTRY:..............................
Please you are adviced to complete the form and send it immediately
to our Promotion manager through email for prompt collection of your
fund from the designated bank.
CONTACT NAME:Mr.MARTIN LOPEX (PROMOTIONS MANAGER)
Name: Mr MARTIN LOPEX
Phone #: 0034-620601591
E MAIL:europeanlotterycommission3@web2mail.com
Any breach of confidentiality on the part of the winners
will result to disqualification.

This E-mail message (including attachments, if any) is
intended for the use of the individual or entity to
which it is addressed and may contain Information that
is privileged, proprietary, confidential and exempted
from disclosure.
If you are not the intended recipient, you are notified
that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this
communication is strictly prohibited.

Yours faithfully,
MRS TERA COLLY

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam