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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "to your nominated bank account" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "transfer of your funds" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
• 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.
  • +447045709816 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• 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.
  • mdvagent1@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: ricardo esteves <r_102285@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 00:11:31 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Fake lottery winning notification


INTERNATIONAL CLAIM DEPARTMENT
SKYPE EMAIL PROMO
LONDON ENGLAND
                                                     

Dear Sir/Madam,

YOU WON: 900,000.00 Pounds Sterling


With utmost joy, we are pleased to inform you of the result of the Skype Email
Promo Lottery International programs held on the 19th, of January 2008.

Your e-mail address attached to TICKET NUMBER 566-018-9-77 with REF
NO.1037231II drew these lucky numbers 894-4563-001, which consequently won in
the 2nd category. You have been approved to receive a cash prize of 900,000.00
Pounds Sterling (NINE HUNDRED THOUSAND POUNDS STERLING).

Be advised that due to incessant mix up in cash prize transfer to previous
winners, we advise that you keep your winning information confidential until
your claims has been processed and your fund (900,000.00 Pounds Sterling)
transferred to your nominated bank account. This security measure is
important; it is protocol meant to avoid double claims, transfer and
unwarranted abuse of this program by other participants.

METHOD OF SELECTING WINNERS:
Participants were selected anonymously through a private ballot system
(computer ballot) from over 35,000 companies and 70,000 individual e-mail
addresses all over the world. At the final draw your e-mail address emerged as
the winner of our last jackpot.

This promotional program takes place bi-annually, and it is promoted and
sponsored Skype Online and Orient software corporation (Orient Networks).

It is meant to reward some individuals and corporations who have devoted their
time and resources surfing the world wide web (www) with their email
addresses.
Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than 15th May 2008 . After the
expiration of that time frame, if your fund is unclaimed, it will be refunded
to us and included in our next draws.

Lastly, in order to avoid unnecessary delays/complications with the transfer
of your funds to you, please always remember to quote your Reference number in
all correspondence with our paying institution. Furthermore, should there be
any change of your present address, please notify us immediately so as to
enable us make the appropriate adjustment.

Congratulations from the management and staff of Skype Email Promo Lottery.
-----------------------------------------------------
Kindly, immediately, contact your Claim Agent/Attorney:

Mark Davenpot
Skype Claim Dept.
MDVAgent1@gmail.com
Tel:+(44) 704 570 9816

for due processing and remittance of your prize money to a designated account
of your choice. Remember, all claims must be made before  15th May 2008. After
this date, all funds will be returned as unclaimed.

Congratulations once again.

Yours in services,
Chris Dutchman
(Lottery Coordinator)

Note: All e-mail transmission/correspondence are 100% protected by our Secure
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam