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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:
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• 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: "Edward Abuye" <edwardapuye2@msn.com>
Reply-To: dredward@o2.pl
Date: Thu, 16 Feb 2006 03:12:41 +0000
Subject: Eu-Total Lottery Winners International programme

Eu-Total Lottery Winners International programme
43 SW Ikoyi Avenue
Lagos - Nigeria
Ref. Number: 87K4/336/T0714/003
Batch Numbe: 468911521-Eu87

Sir/Madam,

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Eu-Total Lottery Winners
International programs 2006.

Your e-mail address attached to ticket number 27522465896-6453 with serial
number 3772554 drew lucky numbers 942-20-23-28-45 which consequently won in
the 1st category, you have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of
SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND U.S. DOLLARS.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!
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 claims and unwarranted abuse of this
program by some participants.

All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from
over 20,000,000 company and 30,000,000 individual email addresses from all
over the world. This promotional program takes place every three years.

This lottery was promoted and sponsored by major oil companies and eminent
personalities, we hope with part of your winning, you will take part in our
next three years USD50 million International Promotion lottery.

Please note, in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications,
remember to quote your reference number and batch numbers in all
correspondence while filing your claim to the coordinator Eu-Total Lottery
Winners International programs
Dr.Edward Abuye
Email< dredward@o2.pl >

Sincerely yours,
Kate Silver
Secretary.
Note: Anybody under the age of 18 is automatically disqualified.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam