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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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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 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.
  • famousculture@gmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Rita Hamilton" <INTERPREOMM01860@NETSCAPE.NET>
Reply-To: famousculture@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 16 Oct 2005 21:23:22 +0200
Subject: AWARD WINNING NOTIFICATION


LOTTERY WINNING NOTIFICATION/ FINAL NOTICE<BR>EMAIL LOTTERY SWEEPSTAKES (ACCREDITED LICENSED AGENT TO FAMOUS CULTURE LOTTERY) Ref. Number: 262/415/7673
Batch Number: 1352-8884-AF 11
Sir/Madam We are pleased to inform you about the result of the Lottery Winners International programs held on the 30th of September 2005. Your e-mail addressattached to ticket number 107613205- with serial number 180-214-730 drew lucky numbers 7-22-18-23-11-44, which consequently won in the 1st category, youhave therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out ofUS$ 1,000,000.00 (One Million United States Dollars).
CONGRATULATIONS!!!Due to the mix up of some numbers and name's we ask that you keep your winning information confidential until your claims has been processed andyour money Remitted to you.This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming andUnwarranted abuse of this program by some participants.All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn fromover 25,000 company and 40,000,000 individual email addresses and namesfrom all over the world. This promotional program takes place every threeyears.This lottery, was promoted by the software corporation to compensate somefew individuals with website and email addresses, we hope that with part ofyour winning you will take part in our next year USD50 million internationallottery.To file for your claim, please contact our FIDUCIAL AGENT:Mr. Joe West of FAMOUS CULTURE AGENCY.
TEL: 0032-496-031-266
Email: famousculture@gmail.comt
Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than 15th of November 2005.After this date all unclaimed funds will be included in the next stake.Please note in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications<BR>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 assoon as possible.Congratulations once more from our members of staff and thank you for beingof our promotional program.To file for your claim, please contact our FIDUCIAL AGENT:Mr. Joe West of FAMOUS CULTURE AGENCY.
TEL: 0032-496-031-266
Email: famousculture@gmail.com
Note: Anybody under the age of 18 is automatically disqualified.
Sincerely yours,
Mrs. Rita Hamilton.
(Lottery Coordinator)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam