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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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:

• 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.
  • adamslister@iol.pt
  • adamslister@iol.pt

Fraud email example:

From: lottoagent@prolinegroupemail.org
Date: Wed, 05 Oct 2005 17:48:50 +0000
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!!!



U.K. Lottery International:
Customer Service
28 LEWISHAM WAY,
SE13 8BJ
LONDON
Ref: 414-3721060
Batch: 121cfc


Dear Winner,


WINNING FINAL NOTIFICATION

We are officially
informing you of the result of the Lottery Winners International
programs held on the 29th of september 2005 as part of our promotional
programs for the year 2005. Your e-mail address attached to ticket
number 77007742781005-18721 with reference number 414-3721060 drew
winning numbers 7-00-71-00-66-49 and credited to batch number 121cfc,
which consequently won in the 3rd category via our electronic ticket as
stated above. You have therefore been approved for a pay out of
£4,000,000.00 (Four Million Pounds).

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Total funds
have now been deposited and insured with our affiliate security firm
(Bank) for transfer into your nominated bank account either by means of
wire transfers through any of our correspondent banks or any other
means suitable to you. We also advice that you keep
your winning information very confidential as our security policy demands to
avoid double claims/impersonation and unwarranted abuse of this program by
some individuals.

All participants were selected through a random
computer ballot system drawn from over 800,000 company and 1,000,000
individual email addresses and names from all over the world. This
promotional program takes place annually and we hope with part of your
winning you will take part in our next year £20 Million Pounds
International Lottery.
To file for your claim, you will be contacting our Verification Department
authorized to verify and process your claims for your total payment (You
will receive more information upon your acknowledgment of this email).

To file for your claim, please contact our Verification Department:Mr.Lister
bruce Reply Email : adamslister@iol.pt

This lottery is promoted and sponsored by
software corporations and other private organizations to help
individuals generate fortunes which would encourage them to expand
their business frontiers thereby creating more opportunities and
assisting with humanitarian concerns within their immediate
environment. Please Note that winnings must be claimed not later than
25th of october 2005. After this date all unclaimed funds will be
included in our subsequent program coming up later in 2005. In order to
avoid complications always quote your reference number in all
correspondence.

Furthermore, should there be any change of address do
inform us as soon as possible. Congratulations from our organization
and thank you for being part of our promotional program.

N.B: (1)
Anybody under the age of 18 is automatically disqualified from this
program.

(2) To file for your claim, please contact our Verification
Department: Mr Adams Lister
Reply Email :adamslister@iol.pt



Sincerely yours,


Mr. Andy johnson
Programs & Events coordinator
(Proline Group Investment)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam