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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:
  • "part of our security protocols" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
• 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.
  • +31610698903 (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.
  • worldlinkintern@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • worldlinkintern@myway.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: botch@botch.orangehome.co.uk
Date: Fri, 22 Dec 2006 14:15:33 +0100 (CET)
Subject: WINNING CLAIM NOTIFICATION


WINNING CLAIM NOTIFICATION

MICROSOFT INTERNET PROMOTION LOTTERY.
66B HEMENSTRAAT NOORDHILL, 1085KJ ZUIDWEST
AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS.

FROM: THE DESK OF THE MANAGING DIRECTOR.
MICROSOFT INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION PRIZE AWARD
Batch No: TOE/4524578454/UE
Ref No: TOE/REF57845245222
TEL: +31-610-698-903.
FAX: +31-847-301-128.
ATTN: CEO

Dear Winner,
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Internet compensation promotion programs held on the 22nd of December, 2006 and it’s aimed at compensating frequent internet explorers in all over the world. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number; TOE45121111454215 with serial numbers TOE4245454145HG555, batch number TOE/4524578454/UE, lottery reference number TOE/REF57845245222 and drew from lucky numbers 65-85-74-98-45-50-63 which consequently won in the 2nd category. you have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of US$1,000,000.00 (ONE MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS) only by the MICROSOFT INTERNATIONAL COMPANY, payable in cash credited to security file numbers (S.C.F.N) NO: 5874545658WUMT at the authorized Payment Bank.

CONGRATULATIONS!
Due to the mix up of some numbers and email addresses, we ask that you keep your winning information’s confidential until your claim has been processed and your money remitted to you in cash or into your provided bank account as the authorized legal beneficiary. This is part of our security protocols to avoid unwarranted abuse of this Program by some participants. This compensational program was promoted and Sponsored by MICROSOFT EXPLORATION INTERNATIONAL COMPANY in all over the world and they are the worldwide leader in software services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. This company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software any time, any place and on any devices. MICROSOFT COMPANY is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. We have help people and Businesses by providing affordable, reliable and convenient payment services and software in the world today and we have invested US$2.5b into software, hardware and a simple to use interface. It is a great opportunity to anyone looking to increase sales through email marketing! So you can realize your dream of financial independence.

Note that all winners were selected through a computer ballot-system drawn from over 900,000 companies and 30,000,000 personal email addresses from all over the world online of which three (3) where selected at random as winners in different category. This promotion program takes place every four years connected to the World Olympic sports organization. This compensational program was promoted and sponsored by William Henry Gates III and His Giant cofounder of the Microsoft Corporation, holds 30.7 percent of its stock making him one of the richest people in the United States and the world in general. He was the marketing and sales strategist behind many of Microsoft's software deals. Their software became the industrialized standard in the early 1980s and has just increased in distribution as the company has grown largest software producer in the world (Microsoft) and Mr. Paul Gardner Allen (Shareholder in Microsoft). We hope that you will have the chance of receiving compensation in the next promotion as you keep on browsing the net to boost the sales of software materials in all over the world. To make your claim, please contact our Clearance Office:

Mrs. Lucy Hook,
For Dr. Edward Davidson (Director of operations).
WORLDLINK INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL BV.
(Clearance and administration of mutual funds consultants)
TEL: +31-619-785-239
Fax: +31-847-271-751
Email: worldlinkintern@aim.com
worldlinkintern@myway.com

Remember, all winnings must be claim not later than 22nd of January, 2007. After this date, all unclaimed funds will be transfer to the International Debt Payment Reconciliation Unit in the Literary Fund of the United Nation. The Literary Fund is used solely for educational purposes of under-developed countries, such as school construction, renovation, and teacher retirement funding. Please note that in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, remember to always quote your Ref. numbers and batch numbers in all your correspondence.
Furthermore, should there be any change of your contact address or information’s about you, do inform our clearance office immediately to avoid disqualification of winning.

Congratulation once again from all the members of our staff and thank you for being part of our promotion program and publications.

Yours Sincerely,
Mrs. Marie Van Botch (Lottery Coordinator)
MICROSOFT EXPLORATION COMPANY.
66B HEMENSTRAAT NOORDHILL, 1085KJ ZUIDWEST
AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS.

Remark: We hope your winning will be used for the betterment of mankind and will change the lives of so many people for good and the use of software and hardware as you keep on browsing the net to boost the sales of software materials in all over the world.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam