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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:
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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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • financier@excite.com
  • qsoft@winning.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Q-soft E Sweepstakes" <qsoft02@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 15 Oct 2005 09:08:29 +0000
Subject: SWEEPSTAKE PRIZE AWARD INFORMATION.

Q-soft E Sweepstakes.
41-48 Drive Eland Square
West Copland 7721NL.
Ref No: QES-35187-22/05.
Serial No: 301133



Date: October 14th, 2005.

Dear Sir/Madam,



This is to officially inform you of the result of our
Q-soft Email Sweepstakes draw that was conducted on
the 14th day of October 2005. This email address which
was attached to Serial Number 301133 and selected by
our E-games Random Selection System (ERSS) has won you
our sweepstakes program in the general prize category.
You have now been approved to claim a total payment
sum of USD$980,000:00 (NINE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY
THOUSAND US DOLLARS ONLY) as attaches to payment file
Ref No: QES-35187-22/05. We are aware of the surprises
that do follow such a notification message based on
the fact that you have not purchase a lottery ticket
from us, but be informed here that it was a
promotional program from our Q-soft company with the
major aim of introducing our services and the same
time promoting the benefit of the Internet usage.

These approved funds can only be claimed by contacting
our assign payment house. Due to the nature of this
program, we ask that you keep a copy of this
notification message safe until your claim has been
processed and collected; as this is the only security
measure that has been put in place to save guild your
interest. You can begin this claim now by contacting
the Payment house on email address:
alkins-financier@excite.com with your Complete Names,
Postal (Resident) Address, Telephone and Fax Numbers,
Occupation, Reference Numbers and the amount approved
(Won) for the processing of this claim. All funds not
applied for after the 30th day of October 2005 will be
return back to us.

Felicitations as we do expect you to make better use
of these funds.

Sincerely Yours,
Milkos Williams (Dr).
Q-soft E. Sweepstakes.
Email: qsoft@winning.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam