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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:
  • "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.
  • +31620779785 (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.
  • financetrustagency@jmail.co.za

Fraud email example:

From: "ACCU LOTTO" <acculotto20@virgilio.it>
Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2006 11:52:42 +0800
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION!!!!!

ACCULOTTO E-MAIL LOTTERY FROM:THE DESK OF THE MANAGING DIRECTOR INTERNATIONAL/PRIZE AWARD DEPT REF:PL2/209318/09 BATCH:18/103/HME. Attn:Dear Sir/Madam We are pleased to inform you of the result of the International Lottery program held on the 20th of December 2005. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number 37511465899-6410 with serial number 4872-510 drewlucky numbers 7-14-88-23-3545 which consequently won in the 1st category,you have therefore $2,500,000.00 {Two million five hundred dollars)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.How did i win this e-mail lottery? Good question!!! All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from over 20,000 company and 30,000,000 individual email addresses and names from all over the world. This promotional program takes place every three year. This lottery was promoted and sponsored by Bill Gates, President of the World Largest software,We hope with part of your winning you will take part in our next USD 50 million international lottery. To file for your claims, please contact our fiducial agent on phone. ================================== DR.DAVE HANCOCK FINANCE TRUST AGENCY TEL: 0031-620779785. FAX: 0031-847455963. E-Mail:financetrustagency@jmail.co.za ================================== Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than 31th 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 also 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. To enable you file your winning prize, you are advised to fully comply with our co-respondent agency office. 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. Sincerely yours, Mrs. Lucia Herbert Lottery Coordinator, California, U.S.A.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam