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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) 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:

• 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.
  • +31650461137 (Netherlands, 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.
  • grouploto2000@netscape.net

Fraud email example:

From: "williams brook" <wvbrook2005@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: grouploto2000@netscape.net
Date: Mon, 24 Oct 2005 09:48:54 +0000
Subject: LOTTERY WINNING NOTIFICATION/ FINAL NOTICE EMAIL LOTTERY SWEEPSTAKES

LOTTERY WINNING NOTIFICATION/ FINAL NOTICE EMAIL LOTTERY SWEEPSTAKES

(ACCREDITED LICENSED AGENT TO GROUPLOTTO INTERNATIONAL)

Ref. Number: 087/109/2208 Batch Number: 4444-7993-JA 4L

Sir/Madam

We are pleased to inform you about the result of the Lottery Winners
International programs held on the 14th October ,2005. Your e-mail address
attached to ticket number 15666040- with serial number 5185-888 drew lucky
numbers 2-34-90-57-1101 which consequently won in the 1st category, you have
therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of US$ 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 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 drawnfrom
over 15,000 company and 10,000,000 individual email addresses and names from
all over the world.

This promotional program takes place every three years. This lottery was
promoted by the software corporation to compensate some few individuals with
website and email addresses, we hope that with part of your winning you will
take part in our next year USD15 million internationallottery. To file for
your claim, please contact our FIDUCIAL AGENT: MR. EDWIN INGJIS OF
GROUPLOTTO INTERNATIONAL. TEL: +31-650-461-137 Email:
grouploto2000@netscape.net Remember, all winning must be claimed not later
than 19th 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 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.

Sincerely yours,
William V.Brook

(Lottery Coordinator)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam