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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.

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

• 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!

Fraud email example:

From: jack@jackthurnder.orangehome.co.uk
Date: Tue, 14 Nov 2006 15:27:52 +0100 (CET)
Subject: BONAZIA OF THE YEAR CONTACT THE OFFICE.


BONAZIA OF THE YEAR CONTACT THE OFFICE.
BLUEMOON LOTTERY INTERNATIONALRef. Number: 132/756/4577Batch Number: 638901527-BC67Sir/MadamWe are pleased to inform you of the result of theLottery Winners International programs held on the 12thof NOVEMBER 2006. Your e-mail address attached to ticketnumber 278511465896-6452 with serial number 3772-554drew lucky numbers 3-14-18-23-31-45 which consequentlywonin the 1st category, you have therefore been approvedfor a lump sum pay out of US$ 1,000,000 (One MillionUnited States Dollars) CONGRATULATIONS!!! Due to mixup of some numbers and names, we ask that you keepyour winning information confidential untilyour claims has been processed and your money Remittedto you. This is part of our security protocol to avoiddouble claiming and unwarranted abuse of this programby some participants. All participants were selectedthrough a computer ballot system drawn from over20,000 company and30,000,000 individual email addresses and names fromall over the world. This promotional program takesplace every three year. This lottery was promoted andsponsored by some eminent personalities who do not wish to declare theiridentity for security reasons. We hope with part ofyour winning you will take part in our next year USD50millionInternational lottery. To file for your claim, pleasecontact our fiducially AgentMR KELLY THURNDERTEL:0031-616-231-299Email: kellythurnder@netscape.netRemember, all winning must be claimed not later than29th of NOVEMBER 2006. After this date all unclaimedfunds will be included in the next stake. Please notein order to avoid unnecessary delays andcomplications, remember to quote your reference numberand batch numbers in all correspondence.Furthermore,should there be any change of address doinform ouragent as soon as possible.Congratulations once morefrom our members of staff and thank you for being partof our promotional program. Note: Anybody under theage of 18 is automaticallydisqualified.Sincerely yours,MRS MARK LISSA.Mr Kelly.Thurnder. Lottery Coordinator

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam