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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:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
• 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.
  • +31647283937 (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.
  • mailinquiry100@aim.com

Fraud email example:

From: "INTERNATIONAL BUREAU" <upperrock.gtb@gibtelecom.net>
Reply-To: mailinquiry100@aim.com
Date: Fri, 4 Jul 2008 07:19:46 +0200
Subject: [ALERT]: Information Included!


Attention,

You have emerged as the STAR prize winner of TWO MILLION, FIVE
HUNDRED THOUSAND USD (US$2.5million) in this automated online
ballot.

To claim your prize, confirm your winning amount to the claims
agent with the contact details below:

Name: Ralph Germain
Phone: +31 647 283 937
Contact: mailinquiry100@aim.com
Contact: mailinquiry@ymail.com

You are required to provide the information below for the claims
process:

Names:
Telephone/Fax number:
Nationality:
Country of Residence:
Occupation:
Age:

Validated winning tickets will be processed and payment
procedure will be announced to the winner.
Please note that you MUST stake and complete the claim process
with 21 days of receiving this notice. It is important that you
call your claims agent to ensure your winning information has
been received.

We look forward to celebrating with you.

Yours Sincerely,

Sarah Jones
Promotion Coordinator

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam