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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• 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.
  • +447040110470 (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.
  • sonicbvinternational@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "CHARLES DONOVAN" <sonicbvlotteryresults@msn.com>
Date: Tue, 04 Oct 2005 12:46:23 +0000
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION!!!

      

SONIC BV LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL
Singel Canal, 1017 AZ Amsterdam.
Annual Lottery Promotions
Customer Service
Ref:SLI/4080318306/05
Batch: 074/05/ZY369

 

WINNING NOTIFICATION

 

We are officially informing you of the result of the Sonic BV Lottery International programs held on the 3RD of OCT. 2005 as part of our promotional programs for the year 2005 in ARMSTERDAM,NETHERLANDS. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number:5368/02 with Serial number: 56475600545 188 drew the lucky numbers:19-6-26-17-35-7, which subsequently won you the lottery in the 3rd category.You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of One Million,Five Hundred Thousand Euros in cash credited to file SLI/9023118308/05.

 

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

 

Your funds have now been deposited and insured through our security firm for transfer to your chosen destination in cash. We also advice that you keep your winning information very confidential as our security policy demands to avoid double claims/impersonation and unwarranted abuse of this program by some unscrupulous individuals.

 

The selection process was carried out through random selection in our computerized email selection system (ESS) from a database of over 500,000 email addresses drawn from all the continents of the world. This promotional program being the first of its kind will now take place annually and we hope with part of your winning you will take part in our next year Five Million Euros, International Lottery Draws. To file for your claim, our accounts department authorized to verify and process your claims for your total payment would be contacting you. (You will receive more information upon your acknowledgment of this email) via our designated claims officer,

 

Claims Officer : Mr Steve Churchill.
Email address : sonicbvinternational

phone : +44 7040110470

 

We intend to use this medium to help individuals generate fortunes which would encourage them to expand their business frontiers thereby creating more opportunities and assisting with humanitarian concerns within their immediate environment. Please Note that claims must be made not later than 20Th of OCT. 2005. After this date all winning funds will be included in our subsequent program. In order to avoid complications always quote your reference number in all correspondence.

 

Furthermore, should there be any change of address do inform us as soon as possible. Congratulations from our organizations and thank you for being part of our promotional program.

 

N.B: Anybody under the age of 18 is not eligible to participate in this program.

All corresponcence that are not directed to : sonicbvinternational@yahoo.com  Will be disqualified.Please take note.

 

Sincerely yours,
Sir Charles Denovan.
Uk Co-ordinator

 

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam