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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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.

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

• The following fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "euro-afro-american-sweepstake lottery"
• 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!
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • +27835048132 (South Africa, 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.
  • stevebarden55@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Lotto Company" <lottocompany2005@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 13 Oct 2005 07:03:44 -0500
Subject: FROM LOTTO COMPANY CONGRATULATIONS WINNING NOTIFICATION

From:Lotto Company
MR.JAMES SMITH
Euro-Afro-American-Sweepstake Lottery
Headquarters: 1a, Bexon Court Carlton
Nottingham shire Nottingham NG4 1SQ Essex
United Kingdom
Customer Service: 580 NCA 85914
Ref: EAASL/941OYI/04
Batch: 12/27/Du34 

                           CONGRATULATIONS WINNING NOTIFICATION
Dear Isabelle

We happily announce to you the draw of the Euro-Afro- American Sweepstake Lottery International programs held on the 10th OCTOBER 2005 in Essex United Kingdom. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number:B9564 75604545 188 with!Serial number 97560 drew the winning:02/07/22/33/38/44/, which subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category.

You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of  US$1,200,000(One million two hundred thousand United  States Dollars) in cash credited to file KPC/9080118308/02.This is from a total cash prize of US $1100,000,00 Million dollars,shared amongst the first One Hundred and thirty (130)
lucky winners in this category world-wide.

Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our Afro booklet representative office in Africa as  indicated  in your play coupon. In view of this, your US$1,200,000(One million two hunfred thousand United States Dollars) would be released to you by Absa Bank South Africa.Our African agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the  release of your funds as soon as you  contact him. All participants were  selected randomly from World  Wide Web site through computer draws system and extracted from over 10,000,00 companies.

This promotion takes place annually.For security reasons,  you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claims is processed and your money remitted to you in whatever manner you deem fit to claim your prize.

This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some unscrupulous elements.Please be warned.To file for your claim, please contact our corresponding agent in South Africa immediately you read this message for quick and urgent release of your fund,contact information is as follow: -

Name :BARRISTER STEPHEN BARDEN

Tel: +27 83-504-8132
Email:stevebarden55@yahoo.com

Please be informed that all winning must be claimed on or before 30th of NOVEMBER 2005. To avoid unnecessary delays  and complications, please quote your reference/batch numbers in any correspondences with our designated agents or us.Congratulations once more from all members and staffs of this program that has successfully won this  competition.

Thank you for being part of our promotional lottery Program.

Sincerely,

MR.JAMES SMITH
United Kingdom Zonal Co-coordinator.
Mr. Alexandra Davis
United Kingdom zonal Secretary General.
Thank you for your Co-operation.

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam