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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • ",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)
• 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.
  • +31619551210 (Netherlands, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "International Promotional Award Netherland's" <claimsdept209@aim.com>
Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2009 19:08:50 +0300
Subject: Contact Your Claims Agent

Dear Internet User.

This Email is to inform you that you emerged a winner in Category (A) with
the sum of $2,500,000.00USD on our online lottery draws.
Your email address is identified with Batch Number:444821545-NL/2008 and
Ticket Number:PP3812/2008-08 in Category (A) and your claims portfolio is
filed with Ref Number:OS 80 ES 9414.For further Information about
your Winnings,contact our Lottery claims agent with the following
contact Address.

CLAIMS AGENT.
Name: Martins Ward
Tel::+31 619 551 210
Email:apply4claims2009@live.nl

You are advised to provide him with the following information:

First name:
Last Name:
Telephone/Fax number:
Nationality:
Age:
Occupation:

NOTE: All winnings must be claimed not later than 14 days, thereafter
unclaimed funds would be included in the next stake.

Remember to quote your reference information.
You are to keep all lotto information confidential, especially your
reference and ticket numbers. Furthermore, should there be any change of
address do inform our agent as soon as possible.

Yours Faithfully.
Tynan Alys
Lottery Coordinator.
Thank you and congratulations!!!

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam