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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.

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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 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.
  • +32485758979 (Belgium, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: MERITAS INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY <meritaslottery@walla.com>
Date: Thu, 20 Oct 2005 15:45:50 +0200
Subject: Your E-mail Prize Award/Contact Agent for Claims!


ACCREDITED LICENSED AGENT MR.LAWRENCE BRIGHT OF MERITAS LOTTERY AGENCY.
Meritas International Lottery

Lottery Headquarters:
123 Fortis Building, Port De Namur
1000, Brussels, Belgium
Customer Service: 580 NCA 85914
Ref: EAASL/941OYI/03
Batch: 12/25/DC34

Dear winner,
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Lottery Winners
International programs held on the 18 th of October 2005. Your e-mail address
Attached to ticket number ML511465892-6410 with serial number 5S82-517 drew
Lucky numbers PR-5-G8-23-21-4P, which consequently won in the 1st
Category, you have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of USD
500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars)
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep your
Winning information
Confidential until your claims have been processed and your money
Remitted to you. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double
Claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some participants. All
Participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from
over 20,000 company and 30,000,000 individual Email addresses and names
from all over the world. This promotional program takes place every
three years. This lottery was promoted and sponsored by Presidents of the
World Largest software, we hope with part of your winning you will take
part in our next year USD50 million international lottery.
To file for your claim, please contact our FIDUCIAL Agent
Mr. LAWRENCE BRIGHT OF MERITAS LOTTERY AGENCY
Tel:+32-48-575-89-79.
E-mail: meritasclaimsdept1@walla.com
Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than 31 October
2005.After this date all unclaimed funds will be included in the next
Stake.
Please note in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications.
Please remember to quote your reference number and batch numbers in all
Correspondence. 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 thank you for being part of our promotional
Program.
Note: Anybody under the age of 18 is automatically disqualified.
Yours Sincerely
CARINE BLEECKER (Mrs.)
Lottery Coordinator.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam