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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!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• 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:
  • ",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.
  • +32485561097 (Belgium, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: evi johnson <evi--j-ohnson145@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <belgiumlotto2007@yahoo.de>
Date: Sun, 30 Sep 2007 11:57:21 +0200
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS YOU HAVE WON


You Won Ref Number (4226119).BELGISH LOTTO AGENCYCLAIM PROCESSING OFFICE: RUE BELLIARD 25-33 1040BRUSSELS,BELGIUM. www.belgische-lotto.comWINNING NUMBER:1-5-10-13-40-41-21 This is to notify you that your Email Address attached to a TicketNumber(106012) has won an Award Sum of 1,000,000.00 Euros(ONE MILLION EUROS)In an Email Sweepstakes program held on the 29th of September 2007,and was release today the 30th of September 2007.Do contact the Details below for the ClaimBELGISHE LOTTERIJ AGENCYMr Fred Edward.Email:belgiumlotto2007@yahoo.deTel:+32-485-561-097.WINNING INFORMATIONSRef Nnumber (4226119),Serial Number 176087, lucky Numbers12426765,Batch Number EU75011Congratulations!SINCERLY YOURS,Mrs Evi Johnson.THE PROMOTIONAL CO-ORDINATOR. Contact Email :belgiumlotto2007@yahoo.deRemember all winning must be claimed not later than 10th of October
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam