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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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.

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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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.
  • +31613410502 (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.
  • adsvanabbott@netscape.net

Fraud email example:

From: "burg van" <batenburg1@msn.com>
Reply-To: adsvanabbott@netscape.net
Date: Thu, 12 Jan 2006 03:34:53 +0000
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS

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 20/12/2005. Your e-mail address attached to ticket  number :EL-23133 with serial number: EL-123542,batch number: EL-35,lottery ref number: EL-9318 and drew lucky numbers 7-1-8-36-4-22 which consequently won in
 the 1st category, you have therefore been approved for   a lump sum pay out of US$2,500,000.00 (Two 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 untilyour 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 emailaddresses 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 Abbott Van Batenburg (Lottery Director)
TEL: 31 613 410 502
FAX: 31 847 192 371
Email: adsvanabbott@netscape.net                                                                                     
                                                                              
Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than 15th Of January, 2006.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,
Mr Abbott Van Batenburg
TEL:  31 613 410 502
FAX: 31 847 192 371
Email:adsvanabbott@netscape.net 

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam