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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:
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
• 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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +31628396069 (Netherlands, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • postcodeagents@netscape.net

Fraud email example:

From: "lotto winners" <lottowinners8@msn.com>
Date: Sun, 16 Oct 2005 17:17:30 +0000
Subject: FIRST CATEGORY AWARD WINNING NOTIFICATION(CONGRATULATIONS)

NATIONAL POSTCODE INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY AND PROMOTIONS.
VANM EEGENSTRAAT 70,
POST CODE 1122GK,
AMSTERDAM,
THE NETHERLANDS.

FROM: THE DESK OF THE MANAGING DIRECTOR,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION/PRIZE,AWARD DEPT.
SCFN: GWK/5333/025648/03UAD.
BATCH: 241/2002/BLL.

Attn:

We wish to congratulate you over your success in our computer balloting
sweepstake held on the 14th day of October,2005.

This is a millennium scientific computer game in which email addresses were
used. It is a promotional program aimed at encouraging internet
users;therefore you do not need to buy ticket to enter for it.

However,your email address was attached to Ticket No:1001-58255563-2285 ;
with SerialNo:8888/03 and LuckY No:02-22-00-66-99-85-52-12-36-50, which
eventually won the lottery in the first category of the draws. Thisentitled
to a cash prize of SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND EUROS(Eur.750,000.00) in
cash credited to security file number GWK/5333/025648/03UAD.This is from a
total cash prize of (EUR 3.Million)share among four individuals in this
category.

We hope with a part of your winning ,you will take part in our NEXT year
stake of EUR. 20 million International Lottery Program.

Note that this program was largely promoted and sponsored by a group of
philanthropist,industrialists from the internet ware industry and some other
big multinational firms who wish to be anonymous.

Your funds is now deposited with our Payment/Finance Department in the
security company to your name ,Due to the mixed up of some numbers and
names, we ask that you keep this winning a top secret from the public notice
until your claims has been processed and remitted to your account as this is
a part of the security protocol, to avoid double claiming or unwarranted
taking advantage of this program by participants.

TO begin your claims, please contact your claim agent:

NATIONAL POSTCODE LOTERIJ AGENCY:

DR.Smith Morgan(Director of Foreign Transfer).
TEL: 0031-628-396-069
Fax: 0031-847-304-633
Email:postcodeagents@netscape.net

For processing and remittance of your cash to a designated account of your
choice. Remember,all winnings must be claim not later than 31st day of
October,2005.After this date, all unclaimed funds will be returned to the
promotion company.

Furthermore, should there be any change of email address, do inform your
claim agent as soon as possible.

Congratulations once again from all members of our staff and thank you for
being part of our promotions.

Yours sincerely,
Mrs Doris Phillips(Lottery Coordinator).

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam