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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:

• 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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
• 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.
  • +31626355346 (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.
  • agentgeorge1@myway.com
  • claim4staats@netscape.net (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Mrs Charlene Graf <claim4staats1@aim.com>
Reply-To: info_george@myway.com
Date: Thu, 24 May 2007 16:53:51 +0200
Subject: From Mrs Graf


STAATSLOTERIJ NL.
(INTERNATONAL PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT)
Ref No: CHN/10-427/12
Batch No: 14/0017/IOF

Attn: Dear Sir/Madam,

FINAL WINNING NOTIFICATION.
We are pleased to inform you of the results of the Staatsloterij Netherlands Lottery programs held on 21st of May 2007. With your e-mail address attached to TICKET NO: 12037,LUCKY NO:23-077 .You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of 550,000.00 Euros (Five Hundred And Fifty THousand Euros) in cash.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
To begin your claim, do file for the release of your winning by contacting your Accredited Agent;
MR. GEORGE DE BOER (Foreign Operations Manager)
STAATSLOTERIJ DEN-HAGUE
Tel: +31-626-355-346
Email: agentgeorge1@myway.com, claim4staats@netscape.net

All winnings must be Notarized to complete the Claim Process. Winners are referred to a Foreign Operations Manager, to have their winnings notarized.
Please note that you will be required to pay for the issuance of your winning certificate and all winnings must be claimed not later than two weeks after receipt of this message.
After this date all unclaimed winnings will be null and void.
Note: Anybody under the age of 18 is automatically disqualified.
Do not respond to this email,Contact your claims agent now with all relevant contact informations!!!
Yours faithfully,

MRS CHARLENE GRAF
Lottery Promotions Co-ordinator

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam