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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!
• 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.
  • +31626413226 (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.
  • custservices78@aim.com

Fraud email example:

From: vera@verakalihoff.orangehome.co.uk
Date: Fri, 8 Dec 2006 12:35:47 +0100 (CET)
Subject: EAST-West Australia ,


EAST-West Australia ,
9701 Alexander Mall, Adelaide,
EAST-West Australia.
(EAST-West Australia Lottery is an affiliate of MCI Networks).
Santon Square, Complex 21, Netherlands.

From: Ms. VERA KALIHOFF.
e-mail :
(Lottery Coordinator)

Sir/Madam,

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the EAST-West Australia Lottery (international program) held on the 5th December. 2006. Your e-mail address attached to ticket #: 34090322816 with prize # 43568000/12 drew €1,000,000.00 which was first in the 1st Category of the draws. You have been approved to receive €1,000,000.00 (One Million Euros).Because of claims mix-up and the limited time claims pay-outs, we will advice that you keep your winning information confidential until your prize (€1,000,000.00) has been remitted to you by our accredited paying bank. You must adhere to this instructions strictly to avoid loss of your cash prize – this program has been abused severally, so we are doing all we can to forestall further abuse by way of wrong claims. It's important to note that this draws were conducted
formally under the watchful eyes of over 45,000 audiences. Winners are selected through an internet ballot system from 160,000 personal and corporate e-mail addresses. The program sponsored/supported by MCI Networks in conjunction with South-West Australia lottery. Congratulate you once again. We hope you will use part cash prize to participate in our next mega draws of €85million. Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than 10-days after you
receive this notification. Failure to claim your cash prize after this date will result in prize forfeiture. Please, in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications remember to quote personal and winning numbers in correspondence with paying bank. Please contact the paying bank with your information for the immediate remittance of your funds.
Kindly send them the following:
(i). your names,
(ii) Contact telephone and fax numbers
(iii) Contact Address
(iv) Your winning numbers
(v) Quote amount won.

Contact the paying bank with the following:
Bank’s Name: SNS BANK NV.
Contact person: Mr Jim Benson
SNS Bank, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
E-mail: custservices78@aim.com
Tel: (+31-626-413-226
Fax: (+31847-235-420.

Congratulations once again.
Yours in service,
Ms. VERA KALIHOFF
Lottery Coordinator.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam