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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:
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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.
  • +31626674559 (Netherlands, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Mercy Edward" <automailpcpostal@netscape.net>
Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2005 16:34:44 +0200
Subject: PCPOSTAL INCORPORATION


PCPOSTAL INCORPORATION
EUROPEAN PRIZE AWARD DEPT.
SPAARNDAMMERSTRAAT 28 B,1113 VW DEN HAAG
NETHERLANDS
REF:HL3/7518/04
BATCH:DL 58/163/EL.

Attn: Dear Sir/Madam

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Pcpostal Incorporation programs held on the 12/10/2005. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number :EL-23133 with serial number: ,batch number: DL58/163EL,lottery ref number: HL3/7518/04 and drew lucky numbers 7-8-7-24-4-22 which consequently won in the 1st category, you have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of €1.5m, (One Million, Five hundred Thousand Euros )

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 Euros 20 million international lottery.To file for your claim, please contact our foreign officer:

Contact Person:Davide Anderson
Tel:+31-626-674-559
Fax:+31-84-757-9914
Email:enquirypcpostal@walla.com

Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than three weeks form the day of the notification of these winnings. 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,

Mrs. Mercy Edward [Secret.]

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam