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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:

• 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:
  • "million united states 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)
  • "international remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
• 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.
  • eddieluwis_office6@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: eddieluwis_office6@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2007 07:21:48 -0400
Subject: NETHERLAND LOTTERY. You Have Won The September 2007 Edition.

NETHER LAND LOTTERY BOARD
WINNING NOTIFICATION.
REF Number: ASL- NL97-5G3

Congratulations to you as we bring to your notice, the results of the
Category B draws of THE LOTTO NL PROMO INT We are happy to inform you
That you have emerged a winner under the Category B, which is part Of
our promotional draws.
The draws are being officially announced today 10th day of September,
2007.Your e-mail address, attached to ticket number
97744-7217-NL,
with serial number 59- 02-DNL drew the lucky numbers
04-10-29-30-42-45-49 and consequently won in the Category B. You
have therefore been awarded a lump sum pay out of $1,000,000.00 (One
Million United States Dollars),

To claim your funds, please contact your claim officer.

International Remittance Department.
Name: Mr.Eddie Luwis.
Email: eddieluwis_office6@yahoo.com.hk

Note: You are to contact the remittance agent immediately and provide
him with these information so that he can commence the release of your
winnings to you as soon as possible.

*NAME OF WINNER: *ADDRESS: *CITY/STATE:
*COUNTRY: *NATIONALITY: *EMAIL ADDRESS:
*TEL: *MOBILE: *FAX: *AMOUNT WON: OCCUPATION:
*LUCKY NUMBERS: *TICKET NUMBER: *AGE:

Yours Sincerely,
Angela Jones.

--

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam