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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
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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:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "foreign service manager" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
• 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.
  • +31612283855 (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.
  • royallotter@netscape.net

Fraud email example:

From: "irena van" <royallottery554@msn.com>
Date: Wed, 11 Jan 2006 14:43:41 +0000
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!!!





ROYAL INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY BV
GRUNDER 107
2340 VC MIJTENSTAAT
DEN HAAG,
THE NETHERLANDS.


ATTN:

We are pleased to inform you of the announcement today 11th of January, 2005
of winners of the ROYAL PROMOTION LOTTERY NETHERLANDS /INTERNATIONAL,
PROGRAMS held on 30th of December 2005. Your email address attached to
ticket number 21-134551314, drew the lucky numbers 11-10-22-13, batch number
6709/NL and consequently won the lottery in the 1st category. You have
therefore been approved of a lump sum pay out of (1,000,OOO:00 Euro)ONE
MILLION EURO ONLY in credited to file LOTTERY REF NO. SGIL/312246 This is
from total prize money of 30,000,000.00 Euro shared among the seventeen
international winners in categories A with serial number: RO/PR/11-C0225201.
All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn form
15,000 company email addresses and 30,000,000 individual email addresses
world wide, which is conducted annually.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Your fund is now in custody of a Security company insured in your FILE
REFERENCE. Due to the mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep
this award strictly from public notice until your Claim has been processed
and your money remitted to your account.This is part of our security
protocol to avoid double claiming or unscrupulous acts by participants of
this program. This lottery program was promoted by our group of
philanthropist headed by the Netherlands Government. We hope with a part of
you prize, you Will participate in our end of year high stakes (5,000,000.00
Euro) Five Million Euro, International Lottery. To begin your claim, please
contact your file/claim Officer:

MR. BARRY HOOK
FOREIGN SERVICE MANAGER
DEN HAAG,
THE NETHERLANDS
TEL:+31-612-283-855
EMAIL:royallotter@netscape.net

Please be informed that NON RESIDENCE of THE NETHERLANDS will be required to
make a NON DEDUCTABLE advance payment of processment and legal documentation
charges of (€998 .10 Cent) Nine Hundred And Ninety Eight Euro Ten Cent, to
enable our legal department acquire Notorisation papers from the Court prior
to award payment policy as required by the paying Security Company. Please
be aware that your Paying Authority will Effect Payment Swiftly upon
satisfactory Report, Verifications and validation provided by our Processing
Agent; that would be designated to your file. For due processment and
remittance of your winning prize to your designated account of your choice.

Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later than 25th of January
2006. After this date, all funds will be returned as unclaimed. NOTE: In
order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to
quote your reference.And batch numbers in every one of your correspondences
with your agent. Furthermore, should there be any change of your address, do
inform your claims agent as soon as possible. Congratulations once again
from our team of staff and thank you for being part of our promotional
program. Note: Anybody under the age of 18 is AUTOMATICALY DISQUALIFIED. And
batch numbers in every one of your correspondences with your agent.
Furthermore, should there be any change of your address, do inform your
claims agent as soon as possible. Congratulations once again from our team
of staff and thank you for being part of our promotional program. Note:
Anybody under the age of 18 is AUTOMATICALYDISQUALIFIED.

Yours sincerely,

Mrs. Irena Van De Boer
(Lottery Coordinator)


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam