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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "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.
  • contact_john@k.ro

Fraud email example:

From: "loto depam" <gnl_a@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 11 Mar 2006 02:46:33 +0000
Subject: Winning Notification

DNL-GH
Department of National Lottery
28-30 February Road Accra Ghana
P. O Box 1139 Accra Ghana

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Lottery Winners
International programs held on the 20/2/2006. Your e-mail address attached
to ticket number:310878GH655BE which consequently won in the 1st 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 60,000 company and 40,000,000 individual email addresses and names
from all over the world. This promotional program takes place quarterly
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$20 million international lottery.

To file for your claim, please contact our Claims Agent with the below
contact information: Contact Person: Mr.john Pears (Claims Agent) Email:
contact_john@k.ro


Please confirm to our Claims Agent with your personal information:

1. Your Full Name
2. Contact Address
3. Telephone Number
4. Fax Number
5. Country of Resident
6. Your Winning Ticket Number
7. Occupation
8. Age

Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than 21 days from the first
date of this Notification. 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.

Yours Sincerely,
Dr. Smith Khan
Zonal Cordinator
DNL World Wide

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam