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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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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "claim 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.
  • +31647232858 (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.
  • davidwhite2005@netscape.net

Fraud email example:

From: "Adams Smith" <adamssmith913@msn.com>
Date: Tue, 03 Jan 2006 15:52:42 +0000
Subject: FROM THE DESK OF ADAMS SMITH

  Adresgegevens                                                                                
  Bezoekadres
  Laan van hoornwijck 55
  2289 DG Rijswijk
  
  Postadres
  Postbus 3059
  2280 GB Rijswijk
  Website/www.zomerloterij.nl
                                          
                                  AWARD/WINNING FINAL NOTIFICATION
                                
FROM ZOMER LOTERIJ DE NETHERLANDS
                                                                                                                                  
  
    
Merry christmas and happy new year in advance,We are pleased to inform you the release of the result of the ZOMERLOTERIJ  INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION held on 31th of December 2005. You were entered as an independent client with: Reference Number: AD921245/75LT, and Batch Number IP/10161/TLP. Your email address attached to the ticket number: 34002 that drew the lucky winning number, which consequently won the sweepstakes in the second category. You have been approved for a payment of (500,000.Euros) FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND   EUROS. in cash credited to file with reference number: AD921245/75LT. This is from a total cash prize of (FIVE MILLION EUROS) Shared among the ten lucky winners. All participants were selected through a random computer ballot system drawn from 91,000 (Ninety One thousand) names of email users around the world, as part of our international promotion programmed to promote the use of Internet thereby increasing the market share of computer softwares.
Due to mix up of some names and addresses, we ask that you keep this award personal discreet, till your claim has been processed and your funds remitted to you. This is part of our security measures to avoid double claiming or unwarranted taking advantage by other participants or impersonators. To begin your claim, do file for the release of your winning by contacting your accredited agent:

MR David White
Tel 0031-647-232-858
Email  davidwhite2005@netscape.net

YOUR SECURITY NUMBER IS V 6772/G9 (KEEP PERSONAL) . Remember, your winning must be claimed not latter than 30th JANUARY 2006,failure to claim your winning prize, it will be added to the next international lottery promotion .Do not forget to send your phone number to your agent for easy communication.
  Furthermore, should there be any change in your address Endeavor to inform your claim agent as soon as possible and if you are below 18 years, you are automatically disqualified. Thanks.
  
CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ONCE AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!
Yours faithfully
ADAMS SMITH
COORDINATOR

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam