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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!

Fraud email example:

From: Promotion Claim Agent Picca <claim_agent_johnpicca1@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 27 Aug 2007 02:23:03 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re:From Microsoft Lottery Companies Agent John Picca.


Dear Winner,

I am writing to you in respect of the company, the management of Microsoft Awarding Team has asked me as your agent to give you a notice on your prize winning.

This is to inform you that from the day of your notification you are given one month to claim your winning prize and if it takes more than one month your winning prize will be confiscated by our company.

Secondly you are hereby made to know that you have 10 days from now to clear your winning prize from the bank and then come to our Company for clearifications or your legal representative person,Kindly know that your winning prize will be confiscated on the (6th of September).

Finally will the Lottery Company will like to see you or your lawyer for paper signing and to process your winning and assurance certificates, this is because we find your name unreleased and processed in our Companies record thank you and have a nice day.

MSN Claims Manager,
Mr John Picca.



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam