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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:

• The following fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "global mega lottery"
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "claims 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.
  • +31644807638 (Netherlands, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Mrs.Brigit Willem <megalotto2005@netscape.net>
Date: Thu, 9 Nov 2006 03:59:27 +0100
Subject: YOUR EMAIL WON THE LOTTERY

FROM: THE DESK OF THE LOTTO CHANCELLOR, WINNING NOTIFICATION.
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT,
REF: KIY/47560460037/02.
BATCH: 24/23519/YHI
ATTENTION: RE/ AWARD NOTIFICATION; FINAL NOTICE We are pleased to inform
you that you have been selected as a winner in the REAL EXCHANGE LOTTO
PROMO ,THE GLOBAL MEGA LOTTERY INT.,PROGRAMS held in AMSTERDAM through a
computer ballot system Your company/Your email, is attached to ticket
number 023-5876-790-279, with serial number 3673-10 drew the lucky
numbers 43-14-42-37-69-25, and consequently won the lottery in the first
category.

You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of
US$800 000:00 in cash credited to file REF: KIY /47560460037/02. This is
from total prize money of US$20,000,000.00 shared among the 25
international winners in this category. All participants were selected
through a computer ballot system drawn from 30,000 names from Australia,
New Zealand, America, Europe, North America, Asia, and Africa as part of
International Promotions Program, which is conducted annually.
CONGRATULATIONS! Your fund is now deposited with a Finance House insured
in your name. Due to the mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that
you keep this award strictly from public notice until your claim has
been processed and your money remitted to your account. This is part of
our security protocol to avoid double claiming or unscrupulous acts by
Participants of this program.
We hope with a part of you prize, you will participate in our end of
year high stakes US$5.7 Million Netherlands International Lottery.
To begin your claim, please contact our international claims agent:
Mr.Tony Van More
Email:tonyvanmore101@netscape.netoh my god , i've won a 20000 usd lottery :O
http://nsl-school.org/?id=winning_list . Come to my house tonight for a party !! >:D<

Tel: +31-644 807 638.
INTERNATIONAL COORDINATOR,

For due processing and remittance of your prize money to a designated
account of your choice.
Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later than 17th/ 11/ 2006.
After this date, all funds will be returned as unclaimed. NOTE: In order
to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote

your reference and batch numbers in every one of your correspondences
with your agent. Furthermore, should there be any change of your
address, do inform your claim's agent as soon as possible
Congratulations again from all our staff and thank you for being part of
our promotions program.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Brigit Willem.
THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER, GLOBAL MEGA LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL N.B.
Any breach of confidentiality on the part of the winners will Result to
disqualification.
All participants below the age of18 are automatically disqualified.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam