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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• 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 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.
  • megaclaimcentre@netscape.net (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: MRS. DOREEN PERCY <internationalprogram@mails.de>
Reply-To: megaclaimcentre@netscape.net
Date: Fri, 21 Oct 2005 15:06:11 +0200
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS! ! ! OUR EMAIL I.D. DRAWS WINNING


CLAIM YOUR WINNING PRIZE.
Your Ref. Number: 742/159/2005
Batch Number: 80157-BC722
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the International Lottery program held on the 20th October, 2005.
Your e-mail address ID attached to ticket number 375143279-6261 with serial number 430852075-3 drew lucky numbers 736-14883545 which consequently won in the 1st category, you have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of US$ 1,000,000.00 (One Million 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 20,000 company and 30,000,000 individual email addresses and names from all over the world. This promotional program takes place every three year. This lottery was promoted and sponsored by Bill Gates, President of the World Largest software=MICROSOFT: http://evan.quuxuum.org/bgnw.html and http://www.microsoft.com/billgates/bio.asp
We hope with part of your winning you will take part in our next USD 50 million international lottery.
To file for your claim, please contact our fiducial agent:
=======================================
DR. BASIL OSWALD
MEGA TRUST AGENCY
MADRID SPAIN
TEL: + 3 4695 877 692
FAX: + 3 3820 563 127
E-Mail:megaclaimcentre@netscape.net
=======================================
Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than 20th November, 2005. After this date all unclaimed funds will be included in the next stake.
Please note in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications also 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.
To enable you file your winning prize, you are advised to fully comply with our co-respondent agency office.
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.
Sincerely yours,
Mrs. Doreen Percy
Lottery Coordinator.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam