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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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• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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.
• 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 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.
  • desanario@wanadoo.es (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • marcovans@yahoo.it (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: BARRISTER.FRANCO BUFFON L.L.D <universal_lottery2424@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: mariostef@inbox.com
Date: Fri, 29 Dec 2006 00:31:33 +0100
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!


FROM THE OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
UNIVERSAL LOTTERY
PROMOTION PRIZE AWARD DEPT.
REF:PL :2/209318/09
BATCH:18/103/BENGPL.
Attn: Winner,
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the
Lottery Winners International programs held on the
20 -12 -2006. Your e-mail address attached to ticket
number 53652894490-4502 with serial number 8942366,
batch number 856151507,lottery ref number 7675213911
and drew lucky numbers -3-6-29-44-66 which consequently won in the category C.
you have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of
US$550,000.00 (FIVE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND
United States dollars) only CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that
you keep your winning information confidential until
your claims has been processed and your money Remitted
to you. This is part of our security protocol
to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this
program by some participants. All participants were
selected through a computer ballot system drawn from
over 50,000 company and 25,000,000 individual
email addresses and names from all over the world.
This promotional program takes place every year. This
lottery was promoted and sponsored by Association of
software producers. we hope with part of your
winning, you will take part in our next year US$20
million Universal Lottery . To file for your claim,
please contact our fiducially agent:
==============================================================
Mr. Franco Burry
GULF ATLANTIC S A .
ITALY
Email: desanario@wanadoo.es OR agent: marcovans@yahoo.it
==============================================================
Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than
28th, JANUARY 2007. After this date all unclaimed funds
will be included in the next stake. Please note in
order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications
please remember to quote your reference number and
batch numbers in all correspondence. Furthermore,
should there be any change of address do inform our agent as soon as possible.
Congratulations once more from our members of staff
and thank you for being part of our promotional
program.
Yours Sincerely,
Proff. Carlo Caligaris
Lottery Coordinator.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam