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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")
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash)
• 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 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.
  • andosuzuki@gmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "JAPANEMAILLOTTO PRIZE AWARD NOTIFICATION" <tagushi@mail.com> (may be fake)
Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2006 23:53:59 +0700
Subject: PRIZE AWARD NOTIFICATION

FROM THE INTERNATIONAL PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT
TAKARAKUJI JUMBO DRAWS, TOKYO, JAPAN.
Category B Prize Winner!
PRIZE AWARD NOTIFICATION

We are pleased to inform you of the announcement
made today, You are among the winners of the JAPAN
EMAIL LOTTO PROMOTION; Participants were selected
through a computer ballot system drawn from
2,500,000 email addresses of individuals and
companies from all part of the world as part of our
electronic business Promotions Program.
Note that you/your email address qualified for the
draw.

As a result of your visiting to various websites we are
running the e-business promotions for. You/Your
Company email address, attached to ticket number
343-221-8756, with serial number 454-17 drew the
lucky numbers 3, 8, 13, 22, 27, 41 and Bonus number
12 and consequently you won in the Second Category
of the JAPAN FORTUNE LOTTO DRAW.
Your winning Ticket is Number. 343-221-8756
Your Serial Number. 454-17
Your lucky draw Numbers are. 3, 8, 13, 22, 27, 41
Bonus Number 12
Your INSURANCE Number: FLS433/453L/GMSA

You have therefore been approved for the payment of
the sum of US$100,000,00 in cash, which is the
winning amount for the Second category winners. This
is from the total prize money of US$2,650,000.00
shared among the international winners in the Second
category. CONGRATULATIONS!

Please be informed that your CHEQUE of the sum of US$100,000.00 is now with Metropolitan Bond and Finance issued with your email address, which won you this prize, therefore you should contact (Metropolitan Bond and Finance) your agent and give them your full names so that they will re-issued your CHEQUE under your full names.
To begin your claim, please provide your agent with the following information below at andosuzuki@gmail.com
1 your name, sex and age.
2 your contact address
3 your active telephone and fax numbers

NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your reference and batch numbers and other information provided above and below in every one of your correspondences with your claims agent.

CONGRATULATIONS! once again from all our staff and thank you for being part of our promotions program.

Sincerely,
MR CHANG LAZARUS.
VICE PRESIDENT INT.PROMOTIONS
www.japanemaillotto.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam