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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• 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.
  • +447024060352 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• 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.
  • dbank-uk@maktoob.com
  • paul20@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Paul Smith <paul3@adon.li>
Date: Sun, 18 Feb 2007 01:15:54 +0100
Subject: CLAIM YOUR PRIZE

CONGRATULATIONS!!!
OPAP S,A.UNITED KINGDOM
AFFILIATES OF HELLENIC LOTTERY ORGANISATION(GREECE).
25 KING STREET, ST JAMES'S, LONDON, SW1Y 6QY UNITED KINGDOM.
WWW.OPAP.GR

Sir/Madam,

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Opapsa Global Software Lotto Winners
International programs held on the 10th of February, 2007. Your e-mail address attached to
Lottery No:008-115-627-609 with Serial No 323-509-992GLH drew  US$1,000,000.00 which was first in
the 2nd class of the draws. You are to receive US$1,000,000.00(one million United States Dollars
Only).

Please be informed that because of mix up in cash pay-outs, we ask you to keep your winning
information confidential until your fund (US$1,000,000.00) has been fully remitted to you by our
accredited pay-point bank. This measure must be adhered to in order to avoid the loss of your
cash prizes.

Prize-winners of our cash prizes  are advised to adhere to these instructions to forestall the
abuse of  this program by other participants. It's important to note that this draws were
conducted formally, and winners are selected through an internet ballot system from 74,000
individual and companies e-mail addresses, hence, the draws are conducted around the world
through our internet based ballot system.

The promotion is sponsored and promoted by Opapsa Global Software Group.We congratulate you once
again. We hope you will use part of it in our next draws; the jackpot winning is US$20 million.
Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than 25 days of this draw.After this date all
unclaimed cash prize will be forfeited and included in the next sweepstake. Please, in order to
avoid unnecessary delays and complications remember to quote your winning numbers in all
correspondence with us.

Congratulations once again from all members of the Opapsa Global Software Lotto.
Thank you for being part of our promotional program. For immediate release of your cash prize to
you,please kindly contact our processing Department with the following information for onward

forwarding to the paying Bank:

(i)Your names,
(ii)State amount won.
(iii)Contact Address
(iv)Your winning numbers
(v)Contact telephones and fax numbers

Contact person:Mr Frank Mark (International Processing Department).

Email:dbank-uk@maktoob.com
ETel: (+44)-702-406-0352
Fax:  (447-0240-82599

Congratulations once again.
Yours Sincerely,

Mr.Paul Smith
(Lottery Coordinator).
NB:CLAIM YOUR PRIZE THROUGH THIS EMAIL ADDRESSES:
paul20@sify.com

 

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam