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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • ",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)
• 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.
  • +31610249938 (Netherlands, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: eur pwr <velmaaycock3@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2007 13:08:44 +0300
Subject: URGENT EMAIL USER NOTIFICATION!!!!.


URGENT EMAIL USER NOTIFICATION!!!!.DEAR WINNER,Following official publication of results of the E-mail electronic Online Sweepstakes organized by the Europwplus cooperation, the Slide circular award and the Heineken prizes in conjunction with the foundation for the promotion of software products, (F.P.S.), held on the 5Th of August, 2007,in the Netherlands, Wherein your electrononic email address emerged as one of the online winning emails in the 1st category,hence your email addresswas attracted to a cash award of € 1,000,000.00 (One million Euro only),We write to officially notify you of this award and to advise you to contact the processing office immediately upon receipt of this message for more information concerning the verification, processing and eventual payment of the above prize to you.It is important to note that your award information was released the 5Th of August 2007 with the following particulars attached to it.(I) Reference Number:NM/BC64367/KY23(ii) Ticket Number: 1942896-9032 (iii)Batch Number: NM/34w45/WOP (iv)File Number: 2-34-90-57-1101(v) Draw lucky number:1-3-4-9/07 .Note, Please contact the claim agents: FOREIGN TRANSFER MANAGER,MR.Alfred Riemen.TEL: +31-610-249-938Email:financetrust@yahoo.deCongratulations!!!Sincerely.Mrs.Larisa Jansen.Promotions Coordinator.
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam