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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.

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")
  • "to your nominated bank account" (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.
  • +31619076037 (Netherlands, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Lucky Day" <lotto2006draws@msn.com>
Reply-To: costomer_servicesnl@walla.com
Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2006 12:54:42 +0000
Subject: NOTICE...CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

THE NATIONAL LOTTERY
Suite 45-55,Lion Towers
Amsterdam Netherlands.
(Customer Services)
Ref: UK/9420X2/68
Batch: 074/05/ZY369

Dear Lucky Winner,
NOTIFICATION OF WINNING
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the just concluded annual
final draws of Osterreichische Lotterien Program. Osterreichische Lotterien
draws was conducted from an exclusive list of 25,000,000 e-mail addresses of
individual and corporate bodies picked by an advanced automated random
computer ballot search from the internet as part of our international
promotions program which we conduct every year.No tickets were sold.

After this automated computer ballot, your e-mail address attached to serial
number 25-65-65 drew the lucky numbers 6-13-18-24-33-39 which consequently
emerged you as one of first fifty (50) lucky winners in this category.You
have therefore been approved for a lump sum payout of (1,000,000.00 (One
Million dollars) in cash credited to file O/L/05-AT/2673. This is from a
total cash prize of 50 Million dollars shared amongst the First fifty (50)
lucky winners in this category.

This year Lottery Program Jackpot is the largest ever for osterreichische
Lotterien.The estimated 50 million jackpot would be the sixth-biggest in
Europe history.The biggest was the 363 million jackpot that went to two
winners in a Febuary 2000 drawing of The Big Game Mega Millions'
predecessor.

Your fund is now deposited in an offshore bank with a hardcover
insurance.Due to the mix up of some numbers and names, we advice that you
keep this award from public notice until your claim has been processed and
your money remitted to your nominated bank account as this is part of our
security protocol to avoid double claiming or unwarranted taking advantage
of this program by the general public.

Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our European booklet
representative office in Netherlands. In view of this, your (1,000,000.00
(One Million dollars) would be released to you by our affiliate bank in
Europe. Our agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the
release of your funds to you as Soon as you make contact with him.

To begin your claim please contact our licensed and accredited agent
assigned to you:

Mr.Robin Van Gogh
Osterreichische Lotterien
Information and Payment Bureau
Netherlands Representative Office
TEL:+31-619-076-037
FAX:+31-847-473-118
FAX: +31-847-301-243
E-mail: costomer_servicesnl@walla.com

Your claims agent will assist you in the processing and remittance of your
prize funds into your designated bank account.

Note that all prize funds must be claimed not later than One month. After
this date all funds will be returned to the LOTTERY TREASURY as unclaimed.
In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please endeavor to
quote your Reference Number:Uk/9420x2/68 and Batch numbers:074/05/ZY369 in
every correspondence with your agent. Furthermore, should there be any
change in your address, do inform your claims agent as soon as
possible.Members of the affiliate agencies are automatically not allowed to
participate in this program.

Congratulations once again from all members of our staff and thanks for our
promotions program.

Yours faithfully
Mrs.Sophia Halendale
Promotions Manager
Osterreichische Lotterien
The Lotto company UK/Europe.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam