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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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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:
  • "fiduciary 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.
  • +31633789542 (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.
  • northgate101@aim.com

Fraud email example:

From: "FREE LOTTO" <freelott@mmail.com>
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 21:01:32 -0700
Subject: YOU ARE A WINNER! CONTACT YOUR AGENT!!!

THE FREE LOTTO COMPANY
Free lotto Headquarters: (www.freelotto.com)
Customer Service
REF No:FR/NL-01055/06
BATCH No:QXZ/2006/TT
NOTIFICATION DESK
We happily announce to you the draw (#718) of Free Lotto International,
online Sweepstakes International program held on 28TH August 2006.
Your address attached to ticket number: 564 756001188 with Serial number
77368/06 drew the lucky numbers

This subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category. You have
therefore been approved to claim a total sum of US$1,000,000.00(One million,
United States Dollars) in cash credited. This is from a total cash prize of
US $25 Million dollars shared amongst the lucky winners in this grand
category. Note that your lucky winning number falls within our European
booklet representative office in Europe as indicated in our play coupon. In
view of this, our agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate
the release of your funds to you as soon as you make contact with him. All
participants were selected randomly from 'World Wide Web' site through
computer draw system from over 100,000 companies. For security reasons, you
are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claims
is processed and your money remitted to you in whatever manner you deem fit
to claim your prize. This is a part of our precautionary measure to avoid
double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some unscrupulous
elements. Please be warned. To file for your claim, contact our fiduciary
agent with the below:
………………………………………………………………………………………………
NAME: RICHARD VAN BOSS (Payment Director)
NORTHGATE CONSULTANCY LTD
PHONE NUMBER: +31- 633-789-542
FAX NUMBER: +31-84-724-0749
EMAIL ADDRESS: northgate101@aim.com or northagte@mmail.com
To avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please quote your
reference/batch numbers in any correspondences with us or our designated
agent.
Congratulations once more from all members and staffs of this program
Yours faithfully,
Mrs. Marry Ann Verdonk (Online Lottery coordinator)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam