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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was sent to thousands of people)
• 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 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.
  • mrs_esthersmith0@excite.com

Fraud email example:

From: "MICHAEL RAKE" <michael_rake@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 04 Oct 2005 02:29:46 +0000
Subject: AWARD NOTIFICATION!!!





!!!!!!!!!!!THE NATIONAL LOTTERY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YOUR CHANCE TO WIN BIG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


THE NATIONAL LOTTERY.

LIVERPOOL,UNITED KINGDOM.

AMSTERDAM,THE NETHERLANDS.

TEL:31 645976717.
Fax:31 31-84-756-6976



Dear Beneficiary,

RE: LOTTERY REF/NO:UK05-CHRDEPTNALOTO
BATCH NO.:1405/13-41.

We are pleased to inform you of the result of
The Lottery Winners International Programs held on
SEPTEMBER 05,2005.Your e-mail address attached to
ticket number 370982217413-7240 with serial number
4708-325 drew lucky numbers 2-34-28-13-41 which
consequently won in the 1st category,you have
therefore been approved for a lump sum pay of
$500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand
United States Dollars). CONGRATULATIONS!!!

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.

All participants were selected through a computer
based ballot system drawn from over 20,000 companies and
30,000,000 individual e-mail addresses and names from
all over the world.This promotional program takes
place every three years.It is promoted and sponsored by Ted Turner,
Jesse Jackson and Ken Envoy.We hope with part of your winnings
you will be part of our next year Mega Millions International Lottery
Promotion.
Where you stand a chance of winning $50.000.000
(Fifty Million United States Dollars).

To file for your claims,please contact our financial
agent MRS.ESTHER SMITH of THE NATIONAL LOTTERY.
E-mail:mrs_esthersmith0@excite.com
Remember,all winnings must be claimed not later than
OCTOBER 28,2005.
After this date all unclaimed funds will be included in the next stake.

Please note,in order to avoid unnecessary
delays and complications,remember to quote
your reference numbers 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 the members and staffs
of THE NATIONAL LOTTERY and thank you for being
part of our promotional program.

Sincerely yours,
MR.MICHAEL RAKE.
Lottery Co-ordinator.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam