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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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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:
  • "claim 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.
  • +31647232858 (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.
  • davidwhite2020@netscape.net (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "staatsloterij.nl" <martin@martinmorffet10.orangehome.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 4 Oct 2006 10:48:28 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: STAATS LOTTERY.NL


STAATS LOTTERY.NL
DEN HAAG, NETHERLAND
www.staatsloterij.nl
We are pleased to inform you the release of the result of the staatsloterij international promotion held on 1st October 2006, you were entered as an Independent client with: Reference Number: DA7547278BR, and Batch Number IP/31071/PAL. Your email address attached to the ticket number: 26-001-114 that drew lucky winning number 1-18-20-45-45-3-5, which consequently won the sweepstakes in the second Category. You have been approved for a payment of (500,000.Euros) Five hundred thousand Euros. In cash credited to file with reference number: DA7547278BR. This is from a total cash prize of (five million dollars) Shared Among the ten lucky winners.
All participants were selected through a random Computer ballot system drawn from 57,000 (fifty seven thousand) names of email Users around the world, as part of our international promotion programmed to Promote the use of Internet thereby increasing the market share of computer Software’s.
Due to mix up of some names and addresses, we ask that you keep this award Personal discreet, till your claim has been processed and your funds remitted To you. This is part of our security measures to avoid double claiming or Unwarranted taking advantage by other participants or impersonators. To begin your claim, do file for the release of your winning by contacting your accredited agent.
(I) The file Ref number: DA7547278BR
(ii) Result winning numbers: 1-18-20-45-45-3-5
(iii) Email ticket number: 26-001-114
For immediate claim of your winning prize, contact your accredited agent.
Mr.David White
EMAIL TO: davidwhite2020@netscape.net
Phone: 0031-647-232-858
The above claim agent will assist you in the processing and remittance of your prize funds to you, not later than two weeks after this date if you do not contact and process your winning prize, all funds will be returned as unclaimed.
Due to unscrupulous acts by participants of this program, and as part of precautionary measures to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some persons. To enable us file in your name for payment, please do provide the following information’s.
1. Full Names:.............................................
2. Residential Address..............................
3. Phone Number:......................................
4. Fax Number:..........................................
5. Occupation:...........................................
6. Sex:......................................................
7. Age: ....................................................
8. Nationality:............................................
9. Present Country:...................................
10. Amount Won:......................................
Once again on behalf of all our staff, Congratulations!
Staats lottery encourages the use of Internet and this promotion program. All information's have to be kept out of public until you have received your Winning prize; this is to avoid double claim and unwarranted abuse of the Program some participants.
Sincerely,
Zack Sonnie
Promotions Manager

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam