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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:

• 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.
  • infolottspor7@netscape.net

Fraud email example:

From: "Juan Galem" <juan_galem2@msn.com>
Date: Tue, 04 Oct 2005 12:36:23 +0000
Subject: AWARD NOTIFICATION!!!

INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION/PRIZE
AWARD DEPT.REF:RGH/871-FPPM3567/55
BATCH:CVB/97/442/KVNL
ZONAL DRAW/47-835-99
SERIA NO:77KVX6942
WINNING FINAL NOTIFICATION
Sir/Madam
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Lottery Winners
International programs held on the 25TH of AUGUST . 2005. Your e-mail
address attached to ticket number 351-55878 drew
lucky numbers 7-22-26-69-37-12,which consequently won in the 2nd Category,
you have therefore been approved for a Lump sum pay out of US$1,000,000.00
(One Million United States Dollars).
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep your winning
information very confidential till your claims has been processed and your
prize/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 ballot system
drawn from over 200,000,000 company and 300,000,000 individual email
addresses and names from all over the
world.This promotional program takes place annually. We Hope with part of
your winning you will take part in our next year USD200 million
international lottery. To file for your claim, please contact our/your
fiducial agent,
MR.GARVIN LAM.of the,
CONTRUST AGENCY
TEL:0032-486-797-183.
Email:infolottspor7@netscape.net
Note that all winning must be claimed not later than 29TH of OCTOBER
2005.After this date all unclaimed, funds willbe 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
coresspondence.
Furthermore, should there be any change of address do inform our agent as
soon as possible. Congratulations once more from our members of staff and
thank you for being part of our promotional program.
Note: Anybody under the age of 18 is automatically disqualified.
Sincerely yours,
Mrs. JUDITH BAUER.
Lottery Coordinator.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam