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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:
  • "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
• 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.
  • +31645551163 (Netherlands, 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.
  • jonathanvankolk@netscape.net

Fraud email example:

From: "mega wins" <megawins@sympatico.ca>
Date: Fri, 10 Mar 2006 15:00:35 +0000
Subject: RESULTS FOR CATEGORY "A" YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS HAVE WON!!!

RESULTS FOR CATEGORY "A" YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS HAVE WON!!!

FROM: MRS.CAROLINE MARSHALL
THE LOTTERY CO-ORDINATOR,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT.

RE / AWARD NOTIFICATION

BACTH NO: LHTE/EU/1599/66788
REF. No: LHTE/EU/1570/60654/002

WINNING NOTIFICATION / PROCESSING ADVICE.

This is to inform you of the release of the E-MAIL
LOTTERY BALLOT INTERNATIONAL/ WORLD GAMING BOARD held
on the 8th of MARCH 2006. Due to the mix up of
number, the results were released on the 10th of
MARCH 2006.

Your email address attached to Ticket No:4586394333
with Serial No 2114654777 drew the lucky numbers of
04-01-55-40-89 which subsequently won the lottery in
the 1st category.

You are therefore been approved for a lump sum payout
of 1.000,000.00 EUROS (ONE MILLION EUROS ONLY) in
credit to a file reference number KHLM8774352087 This
is from total prize money of 7.000,000.00(SEVEN
MILLION EUROS )shared among the international winners
in our 1st -5th categories.

All participants were selected through a computer
ballot system drawn form 25,000 company email
addresses and 3,000,000 individual email addresses
from all search engines and website all over the world as part of
International Promotions Program,conducted every TWO years and this is
promoted and sponsored by eminent personalities.

CONGRATULATIONS! Your funds is now in custody of a
financial/Security company insured in your FILE
REFERENCE and covered with HIGH INSURANCE POLICY.

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.

To process your claim, please contact your file/claim
officer:

MR, JONATHAN VAN KOLK
Tel:+31-645-551-163.
Fax:+31-847-197-552.

email to:jonathanvankolk@netscape.net

Make sure that you quote your winning references in
all your correspondence with them.

Please be informed that NON RESIDENCE oF NETHERLANDS
will be required to procure an Affidavits of Lotto
Claim/Court clearance certificate from the Court in
NETHERLANDS prior to European Gaming Board as required by the paying
Authority.

Please be aware that your Paying Authority will Effect Payment Swiftly upon
satisfactory Report, For due processing and remittance of your winning prize
to designated account of your choice, please treat as
urgent.

NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delay and
complications, please remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in
every one of your correspondences with your agent and all reply must be via
email as to ensure the legibility.
Furthermore, should there be any change of your
address, do inform your claims agent as soon as
possible.

Note that all winning must be claimed not later than 31th of MARCH
2006.After this date all unclaimed, funds will be included in the next
stake.

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.

Yours Sincerely,
CAROLINE MARSHALL
Lottery Coordinator

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam