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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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• 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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "deadline" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
• 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.
  • email.hansg200@netscape.net

Fraud email example:

From: Mrs.Rosella Marthins <info_gt_lo@mail.win.it>
Reply-To: hansg200@netscape.net
Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2006 12:18:04 +0100
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION(CONGRATULATION!!!)


SUPER ENAL LOTTO INTERNATIONAL
REF:PL2/209318/09 BATCH:18/103/HME.
Dear Winner,
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Lottery Winners International programs held on the 17th march, 2006. Your e-mail address attached to ticketnumber 436425795822-5022with serial number 6614102, batch number 8561513507,lottery ref number 7675213911 and drew lucky numbers 7-9-4-17-34-44 which consequently won in the 1st category,you have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of (€1.ooo.ooo.oo One Million Euro) 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 unwarrantedabuse 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 Bill Gates, Chairman of the World Largest software marker, Microsoft and AOL are now the largest Internet companies and in an effort to make sure that Internet Explorer remains the most widely used program, Microsoft and AOL are running an Emaillotto. To file for your claim, please contact our fiducial agent: ==============================================================
Mr. Gideon Hans.
ATLAS FINANCIAL SERVICES .
EMAIL.hansg200@netscape.net
=============================6=================================
Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than 10th April 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 anychange 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 that is unable to meet up with his/her claim before the stipulated deadline will be automatically disqualified.
Yours Sincerely,
Mrs Rosela marthins.
Lottery Coordinator.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam