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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 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 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.
  • +31614373528 (Netherlands, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • appgatinfo@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Boi Bommel <appgatinfo@aim.com>
Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2007 06:06:57 +0200
Subject: RE: CONGRATULATIONS! (SERIAL NO: 472-9768)


FROM: Micro Staatsloterij International Promotion
STADIONPLEIN 16-19,
1043 EK, AMSTERDAM,
THE NETHERLANDS

Dear Eligible Winner,

We happily announce to you the draw of the Micro Staatsloterij International =
Promotion program held on the 20th of September, 2007 in the Netherlands. =
Your e-mail address attached to TICKET Nr: 50941465206529 with SERIAL NO: =
472-9768 drew the LUCKY Nr: S/23467/C4, and BATCH Nr: 14/011/IPD which =
subsequently won you the lottery in the "A" category. You have therefore been =
approved to claim a total sum of 1,000,000.00 (One million Dollar in cash =
credited to file REF Nr: PEKO/2031/8161/07.

This is from a total cash prize of 10,000,000.00 Million Dollars shared =
amongst the first Ten (10) lucky winners in this category A + (Plus).
To file for your claim, please contact our Regional Office with the details =
below for processing and release of your winning.

**********************************
Mr. Alex Rudd
TEL: 0031-614-373-528
Fax: 0031-847-216-445
E-mail: appgatinfo@aim.com
**********************************

NOTE: All winnings must be notarized and Legalized and a certificate of
award must be obtained from the Netherlands Gaming Control Board to complete =
the claims process, this certificate and the notarization/legalization can =
only be obtained through legal representative so winners will be referred to =
our Regional Director to assist in this process.

N.B: All claims are nullified after 15 working days from today.
Congratulations once again from all our staff and thank you for being
part of our promotions program.

Sincerely Yours,

MRS. Boi Bommel
THE PROMOTION COORDINATOR.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam