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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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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "hundred thousand 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 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.
  • +31645541925 (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.
  • vanse_info@yahoo.com.hk

Fraud email example:

From: "De.lotto nl" <euro700@firstpobox.com>
Date: Thu, 23 Feb 2006 22:13:23 -0500
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!!!

FROM: THE DIRECTOR
DE LOTTO NETHERLANDS PRIZE AWARD DEPT.
REF:EL3/498/487
BATCH:9/358/444.
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Lottery
Winners
International programs held on the 5/01/2006. Your e-mail
address attached
to ticket number :EL-241 with serial number:
EL-926,batch
number:EL9/358/444,lottery ref number: EL3/498/487 and drew lucky
numbers
8-5-7-36-4-876 which consequently won in the 1st
category,you have therefore
been approved for a lump sum pay out of
US$1,500,000.00(One Million, Five
Hundred Thousand 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 40,000 company and 20,000,000 individual email
addresses and names
from all over the world.
This promotional program takes place every year. This
lottery was promoted
and sponsored by a group of successful electronic
dealers.we hope with part
of your winning,you will take part in our next year
US$20million
international lottery.
To file for your claim, please contact our paying officer:
Contact Person
Mr Van Eddy
TEL +31-645-541-925
FAX +31-84-713-5413
Email:vanse_info@yahoo.com.hk
Remember, all winnings must be claimed not later than 28th
Of February 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.
Yours Sincerely,
DE LOTTO.NL
EUROPEAN PRIZE AWARD DEPT
THE PROMOTION DIRECTOR.
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM (NL)
www.lotto.nl

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam