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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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• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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 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.
  • +31619114285 (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.
  • ads_lotteryteam@yahoo.com.au

Fraud email example:

From: "adslottoclaims" <adslottoclaims@canada.com>
Date: Thu, 20 Oct 2005 17:03:32 -0800
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS,YOU HAVE WON.

FROM: THE DIRECTOR
EUROPEAN PRIZE AWARD DEPT.
REF:EL3/9318/04
BATCH:8/163/EL.
Attn:Dear Sir/Madam
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Lottery
Winners International programs held on
the 19/10/2005. Your e-mail address attached to ticket
number :EL-23133 with serial number:
EL-123542,batch number: EL-35,lottery ref number: EL-9318
and drew lucky numbers 7-1-8-36-4-22
which consequently won in the 1st category, you have
therefore been approved for a lump sum pay
out of US$1,500,000.00 (One Million, 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 has 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
40,000 company and 20,000,000 individual email addresses and
names from all over the world.
This promotional program takes place every year. This
lottery was promoted and sponsored by a
group of successful electronic dealers.we hope with part of
your winning,you will take part in
our next year US$20 million international lottery. To file
for your claim, please contact our
paying officer:
Contact Person:Mr ALBERT SMITH(Lottery Director)
Tel:+31 619 114 285
Fax:31 318 474 54671
Email:ads_lotteryteam@yahoo.com.au
Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than 26TH OF
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,
larry morgan
For Albert Smith
Tel:+31 619 114 285
Fax:+31 8 4745 4671
----------------------------------------
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam