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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:
  • "million united states dollars" (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 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.
  • westerngroup3@netscape.net

Fraud email example:

From: "Jose Mike" <jose_mike@sympatico.ca>
Date: Fri, 10 Mar 2006 10:07:41 +0000
Subject: Lotto Winner of US$ 2,000,000.00

Lotto Winner of US$ 2,000,000.00
DELOTTO INTERNATIONAL PRIZE DRAW WON
Ref. Number: 333/000/6118
Batch Number: WW2202222-SS77

Sir/Madam

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Lottery Winners
International programs held on the 28th February 2006. Your e-mail address
attached to ticket number 566677700022 with serial number 3331-661 drew
lucky numbers 20-70-35-49-41-45-46 which consequently won in the 2ND
category, you have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of US$
2,000,000.00(Two Million United States Dollars)

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 20,000 company and 30,000,000 individual email addresses and names from
all over the world we hope with part of your winning you will take part in
our next year USD50 million international lotto. To fill for your claim,
please contact our fiducially approve agent,

WESTERN GROUP AGENCY
W.GERTENBACHSTAAT 90
1106 WC AMSTERDAM
THE NETHERLAND
TEL:31-620-472-939
FAX:31-84-753-4987
Email:westerngroup3@netscape.net
MR. TOM VAN HORN
(OPERATIONAL DIRECTOR

Remember all winning must be claimed not later than 28th March 2006. After
this date, all unclaimed funds will be included in the next stake. 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. Sabine De Kamp.
Lottery Coordinator

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam