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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.

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:
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "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.
  • +31619723154 (Netherlands, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "hclcuscare@aim.com" <hclcuscare@aim.com>
Date: Fri, 02 Feb 2007 04:14:25 +0900
Subject: CONGRATS!. YOU HAVE WON OUR EMAIL LOTTERY.

HOLLANDCASINO LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL.
FROM: THE DESK OF THE VICE PRESIDENT.
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD.

BATCH NO: HCNL/009842/06.
REF. NO: HCNL/1282884/06.

WINNING NOTIFICATION.

We happily announce to you the draw of the HCNL programs held in the month
of December 2006 In the Netherlands. Your e-mail address Attached to ticket
number: HCNL-033 6123 234 With Serial number: 005404 drew the lucky Numbers:
31 06 26 13 35 07 11, which subsequently won you the lottery in the 3rd
Category. You have therefore, been approved to Claim a total sum of
US$1,230,000 (One Million Two Hundred and Thirty Thousand, US Dollars)in
cash credited to file Hcnl/F/75543340/06.This is from total cash Prize of US
$130 Million United States Dollars, shared Amongst the Ten (10) lucky
winners in this Category.

This year HCNL Program Jackpot (Lotto 6/49 and Lotto Super 7) one of the
Largest ever Netherlands Lottery. Please note that your lucky winning number
Falls within our European booklet representative office in Europe as
indicated in our play coupon. In view of this, your US$1,230,000 (One
Million Two Hundred and Thirty Thousand, US Dollars) would be released to
you. Our agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the
release of your funds to you as soon as you make contact with him. All
participants were selected randomly from the internet through computer draw
system and extracted from over 100,000 websites. This Promotion takes place
annually. For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning
Information confidential until your claims is processed and your money
remitted to you in whatever manner you deem fit to claim your prize. This is
a part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted
abuse of this program by some unscrupulous person(s). Please be warned.

To file for your claim, please contact our Fiduciary agent with the details
below for Processing of your claims.

Contact Officer: Mr. Willy Van Dirk.
Customer Care Department,
Telephone Number: +31 619 723 154.
Fax Number: +31 847 438 364.
Email: wvandirk@aol.co.uk

To avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please quote your reference
numbers and batch numbers on the top right corner in any correspondences
with us or our designated agent. Congratulations once more from all members
and staff of this program.

Thank you for being part of our promotional lottery program.

Sincerely,
Erika Kamp,
Zonal Coordinator.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam