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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• 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.
  • +31626413226 (Netherlands, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "East-West Australia Lottery," <eastwestlottod13@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 30 Mar 2007 09:44:46 -0100
Subject: YOUR EMAIL ID HAVE WON PRIZE

East-West Australia Lottery,
9701 Alexander Mall, Adelaide,
East-West Australia.
(East-West Australia Lottery is an affiliate of MCI Networks).
Santon Square, Complex 21, Netherlands.

From: Ms. VERA KALIHOFF.
e-mail :
(Lottery Coordinator)

Sir/Madam,

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the East-West Australia
Lottery (international program) held on the 29th March. 2007. Your e-mail
address attached to ticket #: 34090322816 with prize # 43568000/12 drew
€1,000,000.00 which was first in the 1st Category of the draws. You have
been approved to receive €1,000,000.00 (One Million Euros).Because of claims
mix-up and the limited time claims pay-outs, we will advice that you keep
your winning information confidential until your prize (€1,000,000.00) has
been remitted to you by our accredited paying bank. You must adhere to this
instructions strictly to avoid loss of your cash prize – this program has
been abused severally, so we are doing all we can to forestall further abuse
by way of wrong claims. It's important to note that this draws were
conducted formally under the watchful eyes of over 45,000 audiences. Winners
are selected through an internet ballot system from 160,000 personal and
corporate e-mail addresses. The program sponsored/supported by MCI Networks
in conjunction with South-West Australia lottery. Congratulate you once
again. We hope you will use part cash prize to participate in our next mega
draws of €85million. Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than
10-days after you receive this notification. Failure to claim your cash
prize after this date will result in prize forfeiture. Please, in order to
avoid unnecessary delays and complications remember to quote personal and
winning numbers in correspondence with paying bank.
Please contact the paying bank with your information for the immediate
remittance of your funds.
Kindly send them the following:
(i). your names,
(ii) Contact telephone and fax numbers
(iii) Contact Address
(iv) Your winning numbers
(v) Quote amount won.

Contact the paying bank with the following:
Bank’s Name:LAAGSTEHYPOTHEEKOFFERTE. BANK
Contact person: Mr Jim Benson
Amsterdam, Netherlands.
E-mail:infolaagstebnk@bankersmail.com
Tel: (+31-626-413-226
Fax: (+31847-235-420.

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

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam