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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)
• 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.
  • +447031942047 (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.
  • goldenstrikelottery@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: "Latest Results" <goldenstrikewinners@msn.com>
Reply-To: goldenstrikelottery@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Mon, 03 Oct 2005 13:35:58 +0000
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS CONTACT YOUR AGENT IMMIDIATELY!!

FROM: THE DIRECTOR,
GOLDEN STRIKE LOTTERY INT,
EUROPEAN PRIZE AWARD DEPT.
REF:EL3/9318/04
BATCH:8/163/EL.

Att:Dear Sir/Madam

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Lottery Winners
International programs held on the 03/10/2005.

Youre-mail address attached to

Ticket number :EL-23133
Serial number:EL-123542
Batch number:EL-35,lottery
Ref number:  EL-9318
Lucky numbers 7-1-8-36-4-22

which consequently you won in the 1st category,
You there fore have  been approved
for a lump sum pay out of USD $2,000,000.00
(TWO MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS)

 

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 40,000 company and 20,000,000 individual
email addresses and names from all over the world.

This promotional program takes place every year.
This lottery was promoted and sponsored by a group of successful electronic dealers.

We hope with part of your winning,
you will take part in our next year USD$20 million international lottery.

To file for your claim, please contact our Lottery Directorr:

Contact Person:
Mr James Benson (Lottery Director)
TEL:+4470-3194-2047
FAX:+44-847-454-390
Email:goldenstrikelottery@yahoo.co.uk

Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than 30th Of OCTOBER 2005.
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.

Yours Sincerely,
Queensley Rhoda
For Management
GOLDEN STRIKE INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY HEADQUARTERS
GOVERNMENT ACCREDITED LICENSED!!
BRITISH WEB LOTTERY
IS REGISTERED UNDER THE DATA PROTECTION ACT OF
(Registration Z720633X).
UK-ONLINE LOTTERY PROCESSING UNIT
P.O.Box 1010
Liver pool, L701NL,
United Kingdom.

 

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam