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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:
  • "foreign service manager" (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.
  • +31615401054 (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.
  • meridianfgroup@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "EUROMILLONES LOTTERY SPAIN" <euromilloneslottodraws@europe.com>
Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2007 03:28:15 +0500
Subject: EUROMILLONES EMAIL LOTTERY WIN NOTIFICATION



PRIZE AWARD DEPT. REF No: 9590 ES 9414
BATCH No: 573881545-NL/2007
TICKET No:34090322816
SERIAL No: 43568000/12


ATTN: LOTTERY WINNER,

We wish to congratulate you of the result of the EAST-WEST AUSTRALIA
Lottery (international program) balloting sweepstake held
on the 24th March. 2007. This is a millennium scientific computer game in
which email addresses were used. It is a promotional
program aimed at encouraging internet users,therefore you do not need to
buy ticket to enter for it. You have been approved
for the star prize of €1,000,000.00 (One Million Euros).

To claim your winning prize you are to contact the appointed agent as soon
as possible for the immediate release of your winnings:
You must contact the PAYING BANK/CLAIM AGENT with your Full Names, Contact
Telephone Numbers (Home, Office and Mobile Number and also Fax Number)
and also with your winning informations via email to process the immediate
payment of your prize.The Validity period of the winnings
is for 30 working days hence you are expected to make your claims
immediately, any claim not made before this date will be
returned to the East-West Australia Lottery board. Kindly Contact the our
European payment office/agent below with the requested information.

=========================
Mr. Albert Van Leeman
Foreign Service Manager,
MERIDIAN FINANCE GROUP
Tel: 0031-615-401-054
0031-619-729-725
Fax:0031-847-599-111
EMAIL: meridianfgroup@aim.com
===========================


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

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam