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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • williecole@iol.pt
  • williecole@iol.pt

Fraud email example:

From: "Charles Soludo" <profcharles02@msn.com>
Date: Tue, 11 Oct 2005 02:37:18 +0000
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION


FROM THE DESK OF BETTY FORD
PROLINE GROUP INVESTMENT
UNITED KINGDOM
EMAIL:

Dear Winner,
WINNING FINAL NOTIFICATION

We are officially
informing you of the result of the Lottery Winners
International programs held on the 23rd of september
2005
as part of our promotional programs for the year 2005.
Your e-mail address attached to ticket number
77007742781005-18721 with reference number 414-3721060
drew winning numbers 7-00-71-00-66-49 and credited to
batch number 121cfc, which consequently won in the 3rd
category via our electronic ticket as stated above.
You have therefore been approved for a pay out of
£4,000,000.00 (Four Million Pounds).

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Total funds have now been deposited and insured with
our affiliate security firm (Bank) for transfer into
your nominated bank account either by means of
wire transfers through any of our correspondent banks
or any other means suitable to you. 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 individuals.

All participants were selected through a random
computer ballot system drawn from over 800,000 company
and 1,000,000 individual email addresses and names
from all over the world. This promotional program
takes place annually and we hope with part of your
winning you will take part in our next year £20
Million Pounds International Lottery.

To file for your claim, you will be contacting
our Verification Department authorized to verify and
process your claims for your total payment (You will
receive more information upon your acknowledgment of
this email).

To file for your claim, please contact our
Verification Department:Mr.Willie Cole
Reply Email : williecole@iol.pt


This lottery is promoted and sponsored by software
corporations and other private organizations 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 winnings must be claimed
not later than 23rd of october 2005. After this date
all unclaimed funds will be included in our subsequent
program coming up later in 2005. 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 organization and thank you for being part of our
promotional program.

N.B: (1) Anybody under the age of 18 is automatically
disqualified from this program.

(2) To file for your claim, please contact our
Verification Department: Mr Willie Cole
Reply Email :williecole@iol.pt



Sincerely yours,


Ms. Betty ford
Programs & Events coordinator
(Proline Group Investment)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam