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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!
  
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• What can you do when you receive 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:

• The following fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "netherlands gaming board"
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • ",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)
  • "00,000.00" (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.
  • +31643802267 (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.
  • claimlawsuit@aol.com

Fraud email example:

From: WWW.LOTTO.NL <nedpaymen2008 @aim.com>
Reply-To: claimlawsuit@aol.com
Date: Sun, 02 Mar 2008 15:01:23 -0800
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?q?claim_your_=801,000,000.00__prize?=


Webpage.WWW.LOTTO.NL
Government Accredited Licensed lottery promoters.
International Promotions/Prize Award Department
This Lottery is approved by the Netherlands Gaming Board and also Licensed by =
the The International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR)
WWW.LOTTO.NL international emails. held on the 27th February, 2008.
all winnings must be claim not later than March 20th, 2008, after this
date,unclaimed funds will be returned to the Lotto. NL
Your email won the lottery.For a total pay out of =801,000,000.00Euros
no tickets were sold but all email addresses were assigned to different =
ticket numbers for representation and privacy.
Please remember to quote your reference number and batch numbers:
1, Batch 9377 -556 -009
2, Ref: 637409467-Netherlands
3, lucky numbers 1-0960-31-000
CALL NOW TO CLAIM YOUR WINNING PRIZE
CONTACT:
******************************************
NAME: ADVOCATE FABER DUTCHS OF "LAW FIRM".
(ACCREDITED AGENT/FILING OFFICER).
TEL: +31 643-802-267
FAX: + 31 847 301 047.
E-MAIL: claimlawsuit@aol.com
*****************************************
In other to claim your =801,000,000.00 prize winning, you will have to fill =
the form below and send it to Advocate Van Beek for verification and then, =
you will be directed how to get a ticket in your name.
NAME:.....................................
AGE:........................................
SEX:........................................
ADDRESS:...............................
EMAIL:....................................
PHONE:...................................
OCCUPATION:.........................
COMPANY:..............................
COUNTRY:...............................
For processing and remittance of your cash to a designated account of your =
choice. Remember, unclaimed funds will be returned to the International =
Lotto, We're so sure that Lotto.nl F.A.S.T. is the easiest way to win money =
online that we're giving you a to prove it! Click here WWW.LOTTO.NL
Above is your personal Identification Number and can only be used by you to =
claim prizes from Lotto..nl Automatic Subscription Play and prize =
verification. Do not disclose this number to anyone. It assures you, that =
upon submitting the winning entry in accordance with the Rules of Lotto.nl to =
our claim agent Advocate Faber Dutchs
Yours faithfully,
Mrs Maria Meer Eava
Online coordinator
Sweepstakes International Program.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam