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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • +447919195302
• 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.
  • luckyloto08@netscape.net

Fraud email example:

From: Luckyday Lottery International BV <luckyloto06@netscape.net>
Reply-To: luckyloto08@netscape.net
Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2005 11:40:44 +0100
Subject: Your Award Release Notification!!!!


LUCKYDAY LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL.
Laan van Hoornwijck 55
2289 DG Rijswijk,
Amsterdam-Netherlands.

>From The Desk of: The Vice President, International Promotions/ Prize Award.

Ref: WINNER2-LD401/05.
Batch: WINNER2-LD836/05.

This is to inform you of the release of the Luckyday Lottery email lottery ballot lottery draw held in the UK on. Although due to the mix up of numbers, the results were released late. This is to Congratulate you and to inform you that your email address is the second email address to draw the lucky numbers of 11-8-9, which consequently won £500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Pounds Sterling) in this year’s email lottery ballot in the 1st category. This is from
total prize money of £10,000,000.00 shared among 20 international winners in this category.

You have therefore been approved for a lump sum payout of £500,000.00 ( Five Hundred Thousand Pounds) in cash credited to file with ref number WINNER2-LD401/05. All participants were selected through a random computer balloting system drawn
from over 150,000 companies and individuals from Australia, New Zealand, Africa,
Europe, North America, South America and Asia as part of our International promotions program for this year, conducted bi-annually. We advise that you keep your winning information confidential until your claims have been processed and your money paid to you because we shall not be held liable for any wrongful payment or mis-appropriation of your winning prize. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some participants. Note that your winning prizeis presently deposited with our finance firm in the United Kingdom and insured in your name. This promotional program takes place every three years. Please be informed that all non-residents are required to pay a refundable fee between £300-900 Pounds in advance as the non-resident processing/application/notarisation fee prior to the collection of their winning prize.

The processing fee to pay depends on your country of origin. We hope with a part of your
prize money, you will participate in our end of year high stakes of £70 Million International lottery slot to be held in December 2005. Although the next result will not be assosiated with this winning result. For the immediate collection of your prize money, Please contact directly our Cashout Payment Administrator in United Kingdom as below;

Name : Mr. Ken Adams( Payment Administrator )
Email: luckyloto08@netscape.net
Tel : +44-791-919-5302.

All email messages sent to Mr. Ken Adams should have your reference number, your Contact telephone number, your recent address, Country of origin and your E-mail address. Your result category was drawn from our UK regional Office so please Call him immediately for the processing and remittance of your winning prize Money to any destination of your choice. Any claim not made before two weeks from this date will be returned to the Luckyday Lottery International. Note that all unclaimed funds will be included in the next stake. Also in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, remember to quote your reference number in all your correspondence with Mr. Ken Adams and please follow all his instructions religiously. 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 you are lucky for being part
of our promotional program. Anybody under the age of 20 is automatically disqualified.

Yours Sincerely,

Anne Stevens
International Promotions/ Prize Award,
Luckyday International Lottery(www.luckyday.nl).

NB: Any breach of confidentiality on the part of the winners will result to instant disqualification.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam