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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:

• 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.
  • james_declan@hotmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Benjamin Kugel" <jmade124@msn.com>
Reply-To: agent@email2me.net
Date: Thu, 13 Oct 2005 20:21:54 +0000
Subject: NOTICE

FREE LOTTO AGENTS
28 HAMILTON TERRACE
LAMINGTON SPA-ENGLAND CV32 4LY

FROM: THE DESK OF THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT,
REF: FLAL907686 Draw No.: 2497
Winning No.: 32-12-6-37-34-27
ATTENTION: Sir/Madam,
AWARD NOTIFICATION
We happily announce to you the draws of the FREE LOTTO UK international
lottery programs held on the 8th of October,2005 in which you and four
(4) provisional winners were selected as winners under draw No. 2497
Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: 08-04-33-38-BL-AU drew
the lucky numbers: 32-12-6-37-34-27, which subsequently won you the
lottery. All participants were selected randomly through computer
ballot draw system and from 500 companies.

You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of $666,077.30
(Six Hundred and Sixty Six Thousand and Seventy seven Dollars and
Thirty Cents) as your winning prize. This is from a total prize pool
of $3,330,386.50. Please note that your lucky winning number falls
within our Europe payment office in Europe as indicated in the results.
In line with this, your $666,077.30 will be paid to you upon
confirmation and clarification by our payment office in Europe. Our
European agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the
release of your winnings as soon as you contact him.
Do please quote your Draw, Reference and Winning numbers in any
correspondence with our designated agent.

Please include your telephone number(s) when contacting the agent.
You should contact Mr. James Declan at the below email
address: james_declan@hotmail.com

Congratulations once more from all members and staff of this program
and thank you for being part of our promotional lottery program.
Sincerely yours,
Benjamin Kugel.
Results Coordinator.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam