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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:
  • "claims 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.
  • +31629355505 (Netherlands, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "intolotto998@go.com" <intolotto998@go.com>
Date: Wed, 19 Oct 2005 14:52:11 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: YOU HAVE WON!!!



INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARDFREE LOTTO COMPANYHOLLAND HEAD OFFICESNELLERWAARDGRACHT 12,1107 EJ GAASPERDAM, AMSTERDAM,HOLLAND.Winner- REF: LP/26510460037/03BATCH: 24/00319/IPE
Sir/Madam, AWARD NOTIFICATION

We are pleased to inform you of the announcement today 19/10/05 of your selection as one of the ten winners of the promotional Free Lotto Sweepstakes held recently as part of our EXPERIMENTAL BONANZA. You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of 1,000,000.000USD.(One Million Dollars.) We in the Free Lottery Sweepstakes is by this program,
Launching our model computer balloting lottery draws, developed and designed to satisfy the cravings of the ever-growing number of participants in our various lottery programs. With funds accrued exclusively from previous draws, payouts to all winners are guaranteed and will be transferred in record time.
After randomly selecting 15,000 participants from an initial database of 300,000 emails all participants were selected through a computer ballot system from the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Canada, Europe, USA and South America as part our International Promotions Program, which was conducted in view of launching ourselves into the Sweepstakes Industry Worldwide and zoning all participants by their respective continents from across the globe, we produced an extensive list from which you have emerged as one of the winners of the Grand Draw prize.
When this programme takes place, email addresses of unknown individuals(ghost participants) are drawn from all over the world. Their email addresses are attached to certain numbers. If by chance, a certain email address(with numbers attached) tallies with some lucky numbers, email confirmation is being sent to the owners of those addresses. The winnings addresses are selected with the help of a complicated electronic email balloting system as earlier stated.
Your funds are now deposited with the Bank and Security Service. You are to contact our Legal adviser (to free lotto company) by email, phone call or fax within a week of receiving this notice.

Please find full contact details below:SMITH LAW FIRM NLAdvocate Mr. Van Der GooiAdvocate Mrs. G.F SaskiaDr. Edward MakadE-mail:smithfirm2005@netscape.netTel:+31-629-355-505

In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your referenceand batch numbers in every one of your correspondences with your claims agentREF: LP/26510460037/03BATCH: 24/00319/IPE Zonal Draw No: HLA2-003Ticket number 004-5117963-198,Lucky numbers 05-07-11-12-13-27
1.Winners should send to claim officer account detailed address where they want their prize paid orsent.
2.Winners must send their names, address, telephone number and means of identification (international passport or drivers license)to claim officer, via email or fax, to process the immediate payment of your prize.

Congratulations once again.

Yours sincerely,Mrs. Pamela GumezThe Promotions Manager,

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam