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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "microsoft lottery" (no such lottery exists)
  • "arena complex km 18 route de rufisque" (address often used in fake lottery scams)
  • "route de rufisque" (address often used in fake lottery scams)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
• 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.
  • +447045726489 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: MICROSOFT INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY <microsfclaims13@hotmail.co.uk>
Reply-To: <markcadex@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2007 17:56:31 +0000
Subject: MICROSOFT WINNING NOTIFICATION CONGRATULATIONS!!!!




FROM: MR.HERLEY PETERSONE.A.A.S Lottery Headquarters:Customer Service580 N. Tenth Street Sacramento, CA 85914Euro - Afro Asian Sweepstake Lotteryan Affiliate of Foundmoney InternationalArena Complex Km 18 Route de RufisqueI.P.P Award Dept.Amsterdam Netherland.MICROSOFT WINNING NOTIFICATION.We are pleased to inform you of the result of the just concluded annual final draws of Microsoft Lottery Program.Microsoft Lottery Program draws was conducted from an exclusive list of 20,000,000 e-mail addresses of individual and corporate bodies picked by an automated random computer ballot search from the internet as part of our international promotions program which we conduct every year. No tickets were sold.After this automated computer ballot, your e-mail address attached to serial number 06-3434 drew the lucky numbers 7-17-21-26-37-42, which consequently emerged you as one of first fifty (50) lucky winners in this category.You have therefore been approved for a lump sum payout of €1,000,000.00 (One Million EURO) in cash credited to file SL/06-GmbH/4009. This is from total cash prize of €50 Million Euro shared amongst the first fifty- (50) lucky winners in this category. Your funds are now deposited in an offshore bank with a hardcover insurance.Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our European booklet representative office in London. In view of this, our affiliate bank in the Europe would release your €1,000,000.00 (One Million Euro) to you.To begin your claim, you are to choose from the options below:1.Telegraphic /swift bank transfer.2.Diplomatic Courier Service.For option one(1),you are to send your name and address in full, phone number, bank name, bank address, next of kin, account number, Swift/Routing/Sort Code, so as to facilitate the release of your funds to your stated local bank account.For option two(2),you are to send your name, phone number,information of next of kin,mailing address(home or office address), so as to facilitate the release of your Funds to your desired address.You are required to send the necessary information as regards your choosen option to our help line below:Mark CadexEURO AFRO-ASIAN LOTTERYInformation and Payment Bureau:1290 LONDON Representative Office.Phone: +447045726489E-mail: markcadex@yahoo.co.ukYou will be assisted in the processing and remittance of your prize funds into your designated bank account.Note that all prize funds must be claimed not later than two weeks. After this date all funds will be returned to the LOTTERY TREASURY as unclaimed. please endeavor to quote your Reference Number:SL/06-GmbH/4009 and Batch numbers:SL/06-GmbH/3434 in every correspondence with your agent.Congratulations once again from all members of our staff and thanks for being part of our promotions program.MR.HERLEY PETERSONPromotions Manager.Microsoft Lottery Program
_________________________________________________________________
The next generation of MSN Hotmail has arrived - Windows Live Hotmail
http://www.newhotmail.co.uk

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam