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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• 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:
  • "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.
  • +447031844104 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +448700688245 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Xsterreichische Lotterien" <winnotice_lotterien2005@msn.com>
Date: Mon, 24 Oct 2005 02:27:35 +0000
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION:Contact Your Claims Agent Immediately

Österreichische Lotterien
Central Office 
Management and Central Services:           
Rennweg 44
AT - 1038 Wien,Austria.

Reference Number: ÖL/05-AT/2673
Batch: ÖL/05/6565

                                                                                              
                                 Congratulations!!!
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the just concluded annual
final draws of Österreichische Lotterien Program. Österreichische
Lotterien draws was conducted from an exclusive list of 25,000,000 e-mail
addresses of individual and corporate bodies picked  by an advanced
automated random computer ballot search from the internet as part of our
international promotions program which we conduct every year.No tickets
were sold.
After this automated computer ballot, your e-mail address attached to
serial number 25-6565 drew the lucky numbers 6-13-18-24-33-39 which
consequently emerged you as one of first fifty (50) lucky winners in this
category.
 
You have therefore been approved for a lump sum payout of €1,000,000.00
(One Million EURO) in cash credited to file ÖL/05-AT/2673. This is from
a total cash prize of €50 Million Euro shared amongst the first fifty
(50) lucky winners in this category.
 
This year Lottery Program Jackpot is the largest ever for
Österreichische Lotterien. The estimated €50 million jackpot would be the
sixth-biggest in Europe history. The biggest was the €363 million jackpot that
went to two winners in a Febuary 2000 drawing of The Big Game Mega
Millions' predecessor.
 
Your fund is now deposited in an offshore bank with a hardcover
insurance. Due to the mix up of some numbers and names, we advice that you
keep this award from public notice until your claim has been processed and
your money remitted to your nominated bank account as this is part of
our security protocol to avoid double claiming or unwarranted taking
advantage of this program by the general public.
 
Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our European
booklet representative office in London. In view of this, your
€1,000,000.00 (One Million Euro) would be released to you by our affiliate bank
in Europe.
Our agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the
release of your funds to you as soon as you make contact with him.
 
To begin your claim please contact our licensed and accredited agent
assigned to you:
 
Mr.Stevens.G. Herbert
Österreichische Lotterien
Information and Payment Bureau:
London Representative Office.
Phone: +44-703-184-4104
Fax:    +44-870-068-8245
E-mail: claims_herbert@uk2.net
 
Your claims agent will assist you in the processing and remittance of
your prize funds into your designated bank account.
 
Note that all prize funds must be claimed not later than One month.
After this date all funds will be returned to the LOTTERY TREASURY as
unclaimed. In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please
endeavor to quote your Reference Number:ÖL/05-AT/2673 and Batch
numbers:ÖL/05/6565 in every correspondence with your agent. Furthermore, should
there be any change in your address, do inform your claims agent as
soon as possible.

Members of the affiliate agencies are automatically not allowed to
participate in this program.
 
Congratulations once again from all members of our staff and thanks for
being part of our promotions program.
Yours faithfully,
Mrs.Susanne Lu
Promotions Manager.
Österreichische Lotterien.

 

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam