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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "await your urgent response" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
• 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.
  • +31616231379 (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.
  • luckydaylotto06@netscape.net

Fraud email example:

From: "LuckyDay Lottery" <luckyday81@msn.com>
Date: Sat, 21 Jan 2006 12:48:30 +0000
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION/FINAL NOTICE.

LUCKY DAY INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY
LAAN VAN HOORNWIJCK 55, 2289 DG RIJSWIJK
AMSTERDAM- THE NETHERLANDS
Tel:+31-616-231-379
Fax:+31-847-537-288
http://www.luckyday.nl

FROM THE DESK OF THE DIRECTOR INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION/PRIZE AWARD DEPT.
REF: WR/2311786008/01
BATCH: 14/011/IPD

RE: WINNING NOTIFICATION/FINAL NOTICE.
Dear Sir/Madam,

We are pleased to inform you of the release today the 21th of January 2006,
of the Lucky Day Lottery International programmed held on the 23rd of
December 2005. Your personal or company email address attached to ticket
number 205-11465886-629 with serial number 3772-99 drew lucky numbers
7-14-17-23-31-44 which consequently won the lottery in the 2nd category.

You have therefore been approved for a lump sum payout of 1,000,000.00
Euros(One million Euros) in cash credited to file Ref.No
LDL/2311786008/02.This is from a total cash prize of 11million Euros
shared among several international lucky winners in this
category.CONGRATULATIONS. Your fund is now deposited with our Security.

Department/Correspondent Bank to your name and due to mix up of some numbers
and names, we ask that you keep this winning private from public notice
until your claim has been processed and your money remitted to your
designated account. This is part of our security protocol to avoid
double claim and unwarranted taking advantage of this programmed by
participants.

All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from
over 500,000 companies and individual email addresses from all over the
world as part of our international promotions programmed, which takes place
every year. We hope, with part of your winning, you will take part in our
next year stake of 5million Euros international lottery.

Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than 1st, Mach 2006. After
this date all unclaimed fund will be returned to the pool as unclaimed.

NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications please remember
to quote your reference and batch numbers in all correspondence with your
agent.

Furthermore, should there be any change of address, do inform your agent as
soon as possible. Anybody under the age of 18 years is automatically
disqualified.

Congratulations once more from our members of staff and thank you for being
part of our promotional programmed.

Please forward your reply including your telephone number and fax to our
head office Email address:
luckydaylotto06@netscape.net

We await your urgent response with your full contact details,

Yours Sincerely,

MRS Flora VAN ELK
(MEMBER OF STAFF)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam