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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.

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:
  • ",500,000" (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)
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• 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.
  • +31619898359 (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.
  • euonlinenv@web.nl (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "EU ONLINE NV. PROMOTIONS" <euro77@live.com>
Reply-To: euonlinenv@web.nl
Date: Tue, 24 Jun 2008 21:36:28 +0200
Subject: FINAL NOTICE! WINNER

FINAL NOTICE!



Dear Winner,



We proudly bring to your notice, the results of our online draws of the EU ONLINE NV. PROMOTIONS.



You have been selected as the First category winner in our online draws done via computer ballot system, there were no tickets purchased. Your email address was selected from the world wide web and was attached to your winning numbers ANG-27150421. You have been awarded a lump sum pay out of 1,500,000.00eur (One million five hundred thousand euros), which is the winning payout for First category winner in the online draws.



In your best interest, we request that you keep the entire details of your award strictly from public notice until the process of transferring your claims has been completed, and your funds transferred to you. This is to protect winners and to avoid misappropriation of funds.

In pursuant to your prize collection, kindly complete the form below and send by fax or email to the the processing officer below for due processing and transfer of your prize money.



CONTACT:
EU ONLINE NV.(Claims Officer)
MR.PETE CRAMER
Tel: 0031 619898359
Fax: 0031 84 732 3886
Email: euonlinenv@web.nl



(1) NAME OF

BENEFICIARY:_________________________________________________________________



(2) WINNING

NUMBERS:_____________________________________________________________________



(3) EMAIL

ADDRESS:_______________________________________________________________________



(4)

TELEPHONE:___________________________________________________________________________



(5)

FAX:_________________________________________________________________________________



(6)

NATIONALITY:_________________________________________________________________________



(7)

CITY:________________________________________________________________________________



(8) COUNTRY OF

RESIDENCE:________________________________________________________________



(9)

ADDRESS:_____________________________________________________________________________



(10)OCCUPATION:__________________________________________________________________________



I WANT TO BE PAID BY: a / BANK TRANSFER. b/ PERSONAL

COLLECTION. c/ CHEQUE



BENEFICIARY’S BANK DETAILS



Bank

Name:___________________________________________________________________





Account

No:__________________________________________________________________





Swift

Code:__________________________________________________________________



Send your details by fax if you find it difficult sending an email.



Sincerely Yours,

Henk De Bloom.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam