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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:
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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:
  • "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!

Fraud email example:

From: "GEORGE SMITH" <geosmith200@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: geosmotor4me@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Fri, 20 Jan 2006 01:48:32 +0000
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION.

HEAD OFFICE
ASIA-EURO SWEEPSTAKE LOTTERY JP.
YOKOHAMA LANE 21B
1053 DS TOKYO,JAPAN.
FROM:THE DESK OF THE MANAGING DIRECTOR
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION PRIZE AWARD DEPT.
REF:HWS/2002292201/05
BATCH:19/205/JJS.

ATTN: LUCKY WINNER,
WINNING NOTIFICATION.

We are pleased to inform you about the release of the ASIA-EURO SWEEPSTAKE
LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS HELD ON THE 6th of October 2005,your name
attached to ticket number:677-4834490301 with seria number 6599/05 drew the
lucky numbers:4-33-26-40-56-78,which consequently won the lottery in the 2nd
category.

You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of 1milion pounds
sterlings(1m pds) in cash credited to fileWS/2002292201/05.This is from a
total cash prize of 1milion pounds sterlings(1m pds) shared among the ten
international lucky winners in this category.

Furthermore,your lucky winning number falls within our European booklet
representative office in London, United Kingdom (U.K). as indicated in your
play coupon.In view of this,your 1milion pounds sterlings(1m pds) would be
released to you by our banker,CHASE MAHARTHAN BANK LONDON,
U.K.CONGRATULATION. YOUR Fund has been therefore deposited with our banker
in your name from where it would be released to your nominated bank account.

Due to the mixed up of some numbers and names,we ask that you keep this a
top secret from the public notice until your claim has been processed and
your money remitted to your account as this is part of the security
protocools to avoid double claiming or unwarranted taking advantage of this
programs by participants.

All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn form
25,000 company email addresses and 30,000,000 individual email addresses
from Australia, New Zealand, America, Europe, North America and Asia as part
of International Promotions Program, which is conducted annually.
To begin your claim,you should first acknowledge receipt of this
notification through the above email address. Endevour to include your full
recent contact address, telephone/fax numbers and your bank account details
where you want this fund transfered to while replying this notification.As
soon as you confirm receipt of this notification,you shall
beadvised/directed on how to contact the paying bank for processing and
remittance of your fund to your nominated bank account.

Remember,all winning must be claim not later than 24th April 2006 AND AFTER
THIS DATE ALL BE RETURNED AS UNCLAIMED.
NOTE:
In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications,please remember to
quote your reference and batch numbers in every correspondence. Furthermore,
should there be any change of address,do inform us as soon as possible.
Congratulations again from all members of our staff and thank you for being
part of our promotion program.
BEST REGARDS.
GEORGE SMITH
MANAGING DIRECTOR
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION
PRIZE AWARD DEPT

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam