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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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• 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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "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 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.
  • infoaccuagent@yahoo.it (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: CARINA BIANCHI <carina_bianchi1@yahoo.it>
Date: Sat, 13 May 2006 14:09:21 +0200
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS..CHECK WITH YOUR AGENT


ACCULOTTO E-MAIL LOTTERY
FROM:THE DESK OF THE MANAGING DIRECTOR
INTERNATIONAL/PRIZE AWARD DEPT
REF:AL3/407618/06
BATCH:23/405/HDE.
Attn:Dear Sir/Madam
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the International
Lottery program held on the 14th APRIL 2006. Your e-mail address
attached to ticket number 87522465189-7246 with serial number 5912-760
drewlucky numbers 7-11-23-35-61-88 which consequently won in the 1st
category,you have therefore $500,000.00 {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.How did i win this e-mail lottery? Good question!!! 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. This promotional program takes place every
three year. This lottery was promoted and sponsored by Gioco finance
We hope with part of your winning you will take part in our next USD 50
million international lottery. To file for your claims, please contact
your fiducial agent.
==================================
DR.Stefano Lecce
GIOCO FINANCE.
TEL: 0039-0295 44 15 84.
E-MAIL:infoaccuagent@yahoo.it
==================================
Remember, all winning must be claimed
not later than 20th MAY 2006. After this date all unclaimed funds
will be included in the next stake. Please note in order to avoid
unnecessary delays and complications also 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. To enable you file your winning prize, you are
advised to fully comply
with ourco-respondent agency office. 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.Carina Bianchi
Lottery Coordinator,
Milan,Italy.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam