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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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")
• 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.
  • roullette_lotto@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "dave thompson" <davooe1@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: roullette_lotto@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 13 Oct 2005 16:07:25 +0000
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!!!

RUSSIAN ROULLETTE LOTTERY PROMOTION

FROM: THE DESK OF THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER,INTERNATIONAL
PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD

DEPARTMENT,REF: NBM44125677 BATCH: 31/107/AY
ATTENTION: RE/ AWARD NOTIFICATION; FINAL

NOTICE

we are pleased to inform you of the announcement
today,12th October 2005 of winners of our promo: LOTTO EXTRA PROGRAMS held
on 14th September 2005 Your name is attached to ticket number
1416-4612-750,with serial number 3187-17 drew the lucky numbers
31-17-8-28-55, and consequently won the

lottery in the 3rd category. You have therefore been approved for a lump sum
payout of US$3,500,000.00 credited to file REF NO:P/L/E/26510460037/03 this
forms part of the total prize sum of $30,500,000.00
shared among the ten international Winners in this category.
All participants were selected through a computerized random ballot system
drawn from 25,000 names from Australia, New Zealand, America, Europe, North
America, and Asia as part of International Promotions Program, which is
conducted quarterly.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Your fund is now deposited under the custody of a Financial Security company
whom on due processing of your winning documentations and appropriate
identification shall release to you a certified bank check through a secured
mailing procedure in any event you
may not be able to receive your payout physically as required by Law. You
are therefore requested to indicate to ensure a prompt processing of your
payment.

Due to the mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep this
award strictly from public notice until your claim has been processed and
your money received by you. This is part of our security protocol to avoid
double claiming or unscrupulous acts by unauthorized persons.To begin your
claim, you will be given a form to complete and return same to an
accredited lawyer to
this office. He shall upon your retainership of his services notarize and
endorse your won prize at the
Court of competent jurisdiction.

To commence the facilitation of this process kindly
contact your claims agent:

edward martins via this mail

roullette_lotto@yahoo.com

Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later than 31st October
2005.After this date, all funds will be foreclosed and returned as
unclaimed.

NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, All Winners
will be asked to produce
evidence of identification and eligibility. Please remember to quote your
reference and batch numbers in every one of your correspondences with your
agent.
Furthermore, should there be any change of your address, do inform your
claims agent as soon as possible. Congratulations again from all our staff
and thank you for being part of our promotion program.

Sincerely,

dave

The Promotions Manager,

LOTTO EXTRA PROMOTION


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam