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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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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• 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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "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!

Fraud email example:

From: "ma van" <maryvan006@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 05 Feb 2007 00:55:57 +0100
Subject: YOUR EMAIL HAVE WON AWARD

YOUR EMAIL HAVE WON AWARD
DE LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL PRIZE AWARD DEPT.
REF Number: DKSA/31-ILG431/05/06
BATCH No: YMEV/01/096/DLIPD
TICKET No: 20511465463-7644
SERIAL No: 472-9768-98
LUCKY No: 4-13-21-27-36-38-45


Sir/Madam

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Lottery Winners
International programs held on the 29th - 01- 2007. Your e-mail address
attached to ticket number 20511465463-7644 with serial number 472-9768-98
drew lucky numbers 8-06-97-22-05-29 which consequently won in the 2ND
category, you have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of US$
2,000,000.00(Two Million United States Dollars)

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 20,000 company and 30,000,000 individual email addresses and names from
all over the world we hope with part of your winning you will take part in
our next year USD50 million international lotto. To file for your claim,
please contact our lottery processing English department.
MR. JP VAN HERKS
(OPERATIONAL MANAGER
TEL:31-644-749-563
FAX:31-84-753-4987
Email Address:: englishdept02@aol.com


Remember all winning must be claimed not later than 30th -02-2007. 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. Note: Anybody under the
age of 18 is automatically disqualified.

Sincerely yours,

Mrs. Jennifer van der Peter
Lottery Coordinator
Email Address:: englishdept02@aol.com

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam