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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
• 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.
  • globallinksecure@netscape.net

Fraud email example:

From: MRS.JANET KINGS <globallinkchance@netscape.net>
Reply-To: globallinksecure@netscape.net
Date: Sun, 02 Oct 2005 12:31:02 +0200
Subject: WINNING NOTICE (CONTRATULATIONS YOU HAVE WON)


FROM: THE LOTTERY COORDINATOR,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT
DEAR SIR/MADAM,
RESULTS FOR CATEGORY "A" DRAWS
Congratulations to you as we bring to your notice, the results of the Category "A" draws of GOLDEN LOTTERY WORLD-WIDE. We are happy to inform you that you have emerged a winner under the First Category, which is part of our promotional draws. The draws were held on the 29th SEPTEMBER 2005 and results was officially announced 1st OCTOBER 2005. Participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 4,000,000 names/email addresses of individuals and companies from Africa, America, Asia, Australia,Canada, U.K, Europe,Middle East, and New Zealand as part of our International Promotions Program
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Lottery Winners International programs held on the 29th SEPTEMBER 2005. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number 37511465899-6410 with serial number 8472-510707H drew lucky numbers 9-00-28-23-7546 which consequently won in the 1st category, you have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of US$ 550,000,.00 (Five Hundred And Fifty Thousand United States Dollars) with The Ref. Number: 132/756/40027. The Batch Number: 5691527-BC724
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.
This promotional program takes place every three year. This lottery was promoted and sponsored by Bill Gates, President of the World Largest software, we hope with part of your winning you will take part in our next year USD50 million international lottery. To file for your claim.
Please contact your claims agent immediately, to begin your claims process DR. RICHARD BENSON of the GLOBAL LINK SECURE SERVICES MADRID-SPAIN, TEL\FAX: + 34 627 834 267 . E-MAIL: globallinksecure@netscape.net
Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than 15th of OCTOBER 2005. After this date all unclaimed funds will be included in the next stake.
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.
To enable you file your winning prize, you are advised to fully comply with our co-respondent agency office, and due processing and remittance of your prize money to a
designated account of your choice.
Once more Your funds are now deposited with GLOBAL LINK SECURE SERVICES MADRID-SPAIN, a reputable finance firm in the MADRID Insured. In your best interest and also to avoid mix up of numbers and names of any kind, we request that you keep the entire details of your award strictly from public notice until the process of transferring your claims has been completed, and your funds remitted to your account. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming or unscrupulous acts by participants/nonparticipants of this program.

Sincerely yours,
MRS. JANET KINGS

THE LOTTERY COORDINATOR,(GOLDEN LOTTERY)
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT.
N.B. Anybody under the age of 18 is automatically disqualified. And Any breach of confidentiality on the part of the winners will result to disqualification. Please do not reply to this mail to coordinator, contact your claims agent.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam