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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:
  • "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. )
  • "million dollars" (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)
  • ",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 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.
  • pacificfinance@techemail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • finephills@yahoo.com
  • phill_om@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: David Linch <davilinch242@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 9 Jul 2007 12:29:26 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Stop this scam


Dear David Linch,

This will be our last correspondence to you in regards to the result of our International Stake-winners programme held on the 17th October 2006. Of all the 17 finalist playing 7,000 tickets, your name attached to ticket number 27522465896-6453 with serial number 3772-554 drew lucky numbers 5-6-8-19-34-38-11 which consequently won in the second category, you have therefore been approved the winner for a lump sum pay out of Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($2,500,000.00 dollars) Congratulations! Note, this is a tax-free draw; you are not paying any tax on your winnings except for the ANTI-TERROR FEE. All participants selected through a computer ballot system drawn from all other Lottery Institutes Worldwide, which over 3,000,000,000 individuals participated.
We hope that with part of your winning prize you will take part in our next year 450 million dollars lottery programme.

To help us proceed with your claim, ensure confidentiality of this piece of information away from public to avoid unwarranted abuse of the programme or fraudulent act from criminals and unauthorised individuals.
Since we don’t deal directly with the public, to begin your claim, kindly obtain a clearance certificate by contacting our OSA agent, BILL SMITH (Foreign Operational Manager) PACIFIC FINIANCE AND SECURITIES on Tel: 011447904033290, E-mail: pacificfinance@techemail.com

Remember to quote your ID number in all correspondence.
Finally all winnings must be claimed within 14 days of this notice. Failure to contact us within 14 days will result in forfeiture of prize.

Furthermore should there be any change of address, do inform us as soon as possible.
Congratulations from our members of staff and thank you for being part of our program.

Sincerely yours,
George Rodney
President

N/B

PLEASE STOP THEM FROM USEING ALTERNATION EMAIL ADDRESSES.
1,finephills@yahoo.com
2,phill_om@yahoo.com


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam