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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!
  
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• 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:
  • "million united states 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 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.
  • +31641635206 (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.
  • luckydaywinning@netscape.net

Fraud email example:

From: "Samantha van" <staat07@sympatico.ca>
Date: Fri, 10 Mar 2006 14:10:53 +0000
Subject: YOUR AWARD NOTIFICATION

YOUR AWARD NOTIFICATION

LUCKYDAY INTERNATIONAL.
AMSTERDAM- NETHERLANDS.
FROM:THE DESK OF THE VICE PRESIDENT.
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/ PRIZE AWARD.
Ref. Number: 412/657/0007
Batch Number: 538901527-BL


RE: AWARD
NOTIFICATION


We are pleased to inform you of the result of The Lottery Winners
International programs held on the 24th February, 2006. Your e-mail address
attached to ticket number 47789440041-2557 with serial number HL1448-661
drew lucky numbers 3-3-1 which consequently won in the 1st category, you
have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay of US$ 1,000,000.00 (One
Million United States Dollars)CONGRATULATIONS!!! Due to mix up of some
numbers and names, we ask that you keep your winning information
confidential until your claims has been processed and your money Remitted to
you. This is part of our security protocol .

To avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some
participants. All participants were selected through a computer ballot
system drawn from over 20,000 company and 30,000,000 individual email
addresses and names from all over the world we hope with part of your
winning you will take part in our next year USD50 million international
lottery. To file for your claim, please contact our fiducial agent

Mr. Peter Smith
TEL:+31-641-635-206
TEL: +31-622-317-299
E-mail:luckydaywinning@netscape.net

Peter Smith of the trust Group Agency TEL:31-622-317-299 Email:
luckydaywinning@netscape.net please remember, all winning must be claimed
not later than 28th March 2006. After this date, all unclaimed funds will be
included in the next stake. Please note in order to avoid unnecessary delays
and complications

please remember to quote your reference number and batch numbers in all
correspondence. Furthermore, should there be any change of address do inform
our agent as soon as possible. Congratulations once more from our members of
staff and thank you for being part of our promotional program. Note: Anybody
under the age of 18 is automatically disqualified.

Sincerely yours,
Susan van Hands
Lottery Coordinator,

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam