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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.

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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.
  • agent_freedomlotto2005@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: "Christabel Darwin" <freedomnotifier2ndcategory2005@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 12 Oct 2005 12:42:02 -0700
Subject: ONLINE AWARD NOTIFICATION.EMAIL SELECTED 12TH OCTOBER,2005. PERSONAL!

FROM:THE DESK OF THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT
FREEDOM UNIVERSAL PROMOTIONS
107-109 BUCKINGHAM PALACE ROAD,
VICTORIA,
LONDON SW1W 9SP

REF NO: MELI-T/ 17-F044262312
BATCH: 901/00319/HLP

RE: AWARD WINNING NOTIFICATION: FINAL NOTICE.

We are pleased to inform you of the announcement today of
winners of the MEGA JACKPOT LOTTO WINNINGS,PROGRAMS held
on 12th October,2005.Yourcompany or your personal e-mail address,
is attached to ticket number 9901-0148-790-691,with serial
number 66109-17 drew the lucky numbers 990-11-815-37-10-83,
and consequently won the lottery in the 2nd category.
October,2005.You have therefore been approved for a lump sum
pay out of US$300,000.00 in cash credited to file REF NO:
MELI-T/ 17-F044262312.
This is from total prize money of US$9,000,000.00 shared
among the Thirty(30)international winners in this category.All
participants were selected through a computer ballot system
drawn form 25,000 names from Australia,New Zealand,America,
Europe,North America and Asia,as part of International
Promotions Program,which is conducted annually.Your fund
has been deposited in an escrow account and insured in your
name.Due to the mix up of some numbers and names,we ask that
you keep this award strictly from public notice until your
claim has been processed and your money remitted to your
account.
This is part of our security protocol to avoid double
claiming or unscrupulous acts by participants of this program.
We hope with a part of your prize,you will participate in
our year high stakes US$100.Million International Lottery.
To claim your winning prize,you must first contact the
claims department by email:

Mr.Michael Hernando.
Email;agent_freedomlotto2005@yahoo.co.uk
Fax;+(44)7092869330

For processing and remittance of your prize money to a
designated account of your choice.Remember,all prize money
must be claimed not later than the 18th October,2005.All funds
not claimed on or before the fixed date will be returned as
unclaimed.NOTE:In order to avoid unnecessary delays and
complications, please remember to quote your reference and
batch numbers in all correspondences with this office.
Furthermore,should there be any change of your address,do
inform us as soon as possible.Congratulations again from
all our staff for being part of our promotions program.
Sincerely,

Mrs Christabel Darwin.
For Freedom lotto;
N.B.Any breach of confidentiality on the part of the winners will
result in disqualification and any winner below the age of 18years
is automatically disqualified.



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam