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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:

• 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.
  • claims_smith243@yahoo.com.au

Fraud email example:

From: "albert smith" <adsloto_10@msn.com>
Reply-To: claims_smith243@yahoo.com.au
Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2005 12:45:30 +0000
Subject: winning result"

DS INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY

WINNING! WINNING!!WINNING!!!

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 24/10/2005. Your e-mail address
attached
to ticket number: EL-23133 with serial number:EL-123542, batch number:
EL-35, lottery refnumber: EL-9318 and drew lucky numbers 7-1-8-36-4-22
which consequently won in the 1st category, you have therefore been
approved foralump 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: + 318 474 54671

Email:claims_smith243@yahoo.com.au

Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than 2nd of
november2005. 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,

ADSlarrywhite For

Albert Smith
Tel: +31 619 114 285
Fax: +31 8 4745 4671

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam