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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "lottery winners international e-mail programs"
• 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.
  • +34646255429 (Spain, 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.
  • security@k.ro

Fraud email example:

From: mrs maria smith <lotto171promom@netscape.net>
Date: Thu, 09 Feb 2006 20:31:16 +0100
Subject: Congratulation


EURO MILLIONS LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL.
FROM: INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION/PRIZE AWARD DEPT.
RE: WINNING NOTIFICATION / FINAL NOTICE.
REFERENCE: 90/30/KPD.
BATCH: EGGS-545-626-787.
DATE:9/02/2006.
Sir/Madam,
We are pleased to inform you of the result in Euro Millions Lottery
Winners International E-mail programs held on the FEBUARY 9, 2006 . Your
E-mail address attached to ticket number 653-908-321-675 with serial
main number 345-790-241-671 drew lucky star numbers 34-32-90-43-32 which
consequently won in the 2nd category, you have therefore been approved
for a lump sum pay out of 1.000.000.00 uro.(OneMillion uro)
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Due to 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. All participants
were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from over 100,000
company and 50,000,000 individual email addresses and names from all
over the world.
This lottery was promoted and sponsored by Bill Gates, President of
Microsoft, the world's largest software company inorder to enhance and
promote the use of Internet Explorer Users and microsoft-wares around
the globe.
This promotional program takes place every three year. We hope with part
of your winning you will take part in our end of year 50 million Euro
International lottery. Meanwhile,to clarify your doubts on how come you
were selected and frequently questions that you may likely ask(HOW DID I
ENTER THIS CONTEST???HOW DID YOU GET MY EMAIL ADDRESS???HOW DID I
WIN???).
Please note that all email address/names registered with different and
various websites/pages in the internet were selected through a
computerized ballot machine system from the internet,randomly drawn from
over 100,000.00 COMPANIES and 0,000,000.00(INDIVIDUALS PRIVATE/PERSONAL)

To file for your claim, please contact our fiducial agent, DR.Thomas
Wallker
TEL :+34-646-255-429.
Email:info-security@k.ro
(PRUDENT SECURITY COMPANY)
Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than two weeks, After
this date all unclaimed funds will be included in the next state.
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.
Sincerely yours,
MRS,Marian smith,
Lottery Coordinator.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam