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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:

• 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)
• 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 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.
  • chevron321@hotmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: chevroncompany14@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2008 21:15:12 +0300
Subject:


THE CHEVRON/TEXACO OFFICIAL PRIZE NOTIFICATION.

You have been selected in the on-going Chevron/Texaco award held this October 2008. We
the promo board are pleased to inform you that, you alongside four(4) other lucky
winners have been approved for a payment of $5.5Million Dollars in cash. Note that this promotion is

mainly aimed at alleviating poverty, it
is also aimed at encouraging internet Users worldwide. This email is randomly sent to
five people worldwide. If you did receive this email, it means you are one of the
five(5) lucky winners. Your verification number is: (CT-222-6747,FGN/P-900-56).
This promotion is held to mark Chevron`s Aniversary. You will be required to fill out
your information in the below given form and send it to the funds release officer as this is co-

sponsored by the Federal Government of Malaysia and Shell Oil
Please find his contact details below:

CLAIMS PROCESSING OFFICER:
Sir. Goldman Freeman
EMAIL:chevron321@hotmail.com
Telephone: +60149270280

You are also advised to provide him with the under listed information as soon as possible:

NAME IN FULL:
CONTACT ADDRESS:
AGE:
NATIONALITY
OCCUPATION:
PHONE:
FAX:
MOBILE:
SEX (M/F):
ANNUAL INCOME:
REMARKS ABOUT CHEVRON/TEXACO:

We are glad to have you as one of our luckly winners.
Yours Sincerely,
Mr.Didi Young
Online Co-ordinator...

Co-sponsors of this online promotion are
listed herein: Shell Oil Company,Corporation and the Federal Government of Malaysia

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam