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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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:

• 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.
  • mailpaulsmith2@netscape.net

Fraud email example:

From: "Lottery Notification" <award_winnings_notification@msn.com>
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 16:03:31 +0000
Subject: reconfirmation us$750.000.00

MICROSOFT EMAIL LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL.
FROM:THE DESK OF THE VICE PRESIDENT.
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD.
FINAL WINNING NOTIFICATION,

Attn,

Winner,

This is to inform you of the release of the MICROSOFT EMAIL LOTTERY
INTERNATIONAL/ WORLD GAMING BOARD held on the 22nd Octobber 2005 Due to
the mix up of numbers, the results were released on the 26th  October
2005. Your name attached to ticket666/09/pr also with with drew the lucky
numbers of 7-9-2-8 which consequently won the lottery in the 1st
category. You have therefore been approved for payment SEVEN HUNDRE AND FIFTY
THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY.( US$750,000.00 ) cash credited to
file with REF. NO.633/98/401,SERIAL NO:638/6Y33,BATCH NO:93NBMC666

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  paticipants.All participants were selected through a
computer ballot  system drawn from only Microsoft users from over 20,000
company, and 3,000,000 individual email addresses and names from all over
the world.This promotional program takes place every three years. For
your processing of your claim please contact our fudicial agent in the
legaldepartment.

Mr. Paul Smith
TEL:0031-615-223-119
FAX:0031-847-300-660
Email:mailpaulsmith2@netscape.net
MICROSOFT EMAIL LOTTERY INTER.

processing and remittance of your winning prize money to a destination
of your choice.Any claim not made befor 9th November this day will be
returned to the MINISTERIAL VAN DE ECONOMIA NETHERLANDS. Note that all
unclaimed funds will be included in the next stake.

Also in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, remember
to quote your reference number and batch numbers in all your
correspondence with Mr.Paul Smith.

Please follow all his instructions.Furthermore, should there be any
change  of address do inform us as quickly 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,
Sandra Blaze Hoornbeck
Vice President
MICROSOFT EMAIL LOTTERY INTER.
 

 

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam