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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
• 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.
  • info_premiumlotto@zwallet.com
  • @yahoo.com
  • gilroson@myway.com
  • info_premiumlotto@zwallet.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Loius Baker" <louisbakerdonald@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: harrisphils@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 06 Oct 2005 12:35:50 +0000
Subject: Winning Notification!Congratulations!

FROM: THE DIRECTOR EUROPEAN PRIZE AWARD DEPT OF GRAND

PREMIUM LOTTO PROMOTIONS EUROPE

EMAIL:info_premiumlotto@zwallet.com

REF:EL3/9318/04 BATCH:8/163/GPL.

Attn:Dear Sir/Madam

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Lottery Winners

International programs held on the 03/10/2005. Your e-mail address

attached to ticket number :gpL-23133 with serial number: gplL-123542, batch

number:gpL-35,lottery ref number:EL-9318 and drew lucky numbers

7-1-8-36-4-22 whichconsequently won in the 3rd category, you have

therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of US$3,500,000.00(Three

Million,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 ballot system drawn from

over 40,000 company and 20,000,000 individual email addresses and names from

all over the world.

This promotional program takes place every year. This lottery was

promoted and sponsored by a group of successful electronic dealers for this

forth NewYear 2005 worldwide.we hope with part of your winning,you will take

part in our next year US$20million international lottery. To file for

yourclaim,please contact our paying officer:

Contact Persons;Name:MR HARRISON J,PHILIPS. (Lottery Director)

Email:harrisphils@yahoo.com

OR

GILBERT ROBIN ANDERSON(Assistant director)

EMail:gilroson@myway.com

Remember, All winning must be claimed not later than 30nd Of

Oct,2005.After this date all unclaimedfunds will be included in the next stake.

Please note in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications

please remember to quote your referencenumber 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 our

members of staff and thank you for being part of our promotional program.

Note:

Anybody under the age of 18 is automatically disqualified.

Yours Faithfully,

LOUIS BAKER.D.

promotion manager

Grand Premium Lotto.

FROM:THE DIRECTOR EUROPEAN PRIZE AWARD DEPT OF GRAND PREMIUM LOTTO PROMOTIONS EUROPE.E- MAIL:info_premiumlotto@zwallet.com.

 

 

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam