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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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 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.
  • adamsmith441@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Euro Million" <informiler10@msn.com>
Date: Thu, 05 Jan 2006 16:35:07 +0000
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION!!!

National Loterij!!!
Kikenstraat 1743
1104KG Amsterdam
Netherland
(Customer Services)
WINNING NOTIFICATION:
Ref: XYL /26510460037/05
Batch: 24/00319/IPD

Dear Winner,

We happily announce to you the draw (#1024) of the NETHERLAND NATIONAL
LOTTERY,end of the year online Sweepstakes International program held on
Tuesday 27th December 2005.
Your e-mail address attached to ticket number:56475600545 188 with Serial
number 5368/02 drew the lucky numbers: which subsequently won you the
lottery in the 2nd category .

You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of One Million Euro
in cash credited to file XYL /26510460037/05 .

This is from a total cash prize of 8 million Dollars shared amongst the
(10) lucky winners in this category i.e Match 1 plus bonus.

All participants for the online version were selected randomly from World
Wide Web sites through computer draw system and extracted from over 100,000
unions,associations,and corporate bodies that are listed online. This
promotion takes place weekly.

Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our European booklet
representative office in Europe as indicated in your play coupon.

In view of this, your Eight hundred Thousand dollars (USD 800,000.00)
would be released to you by any of our payment offices in Europe.

Our European agent will immediately commence the process, to facilitate the
release of your fund , do provide to this office the following information :
Name:
Date of Birth:
Sex:
Occupation:
Tel/Mobiel:
Fax Number:
Country Code:
Email:
Nationality:
Next of Kin:
File Reference Number:
Serial Number:
Ticket Number:
Draw Lucky Number:

For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information
confidential till your claim is processed and your money remitted to you in
whatever manner you deem fit to claim your prize.

This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and
unwarranted abuse of this program.

Please be warned. To file for your claim, please contact our claims agent:
Overseas Claims Unit
Netherland Lottery Fiduciary
Dr Adam Smith
Email: adamsmith441@yahoo.com
Our European agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the
release of your funds as soon as you contact him. You may wish to establish
contact via e-mail with the particulars presented above citing the batch
and reference numbers to this letter.

Our winners are assured of the utmost standards of confidentiality, and
press anonymity until the end of proceedings, and beyond where they so
desire. Be further advised to maintain the strictest level of
confidentiality until the end of proceedings to circumvent problems
associated with fraudulent claims. This is part of our precautionary
measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program

This promotion is offered only electronically via the Internet and is open
to all persons from age 18 years and above with a valid email address
.Principals and employees of the Netherlands National Universal Loterij and
its Respective Parents, subsidiaries and their immediate families are not
eligible to participate in this programe Goodluck from me and members of
staff of the Netherland National Universal Loterij.
Yours faithfully,

REV. GEORGE HARRIS
Online co-ordinator for Netherland NATIONAL LOTTERY

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam