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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.

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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 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.
  • +31617620766 (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.
  • unitrust1@netscape.net

Fraud email example:

From: "smoris@go.com" <smoris@go.com>
Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2005 14:30:23 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!!!



FROM:UNIVERSAL LOTTO INTERNATIONALINTERNATIONAL PROMOTION/PRIZE AWARD DEPT.REF: MLI/709-ILGI0230/92BATCH: IPD/77/256/PTNLRE: WINNING FINAL NOTIFICATION
Sir/Madam
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Lottery Winners Internationalprograms held on the th of 27Oct, 2005.Your e-mail address attached to ticketnumber 705-454-33-770-1812-11 with serial number 345-009 000 drew lucky numbers9-76-707-959-960- 20which consequently wonin the 2nd category, you have thereforebeen approved for a lump sumpay out of US$800,000.00 (Eight Hundred Thousand United StatesDollars) CONGRATULATIONS!!! Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep your winninginformation very confidential till your claims has been processed and yourprize/money Remitted to you. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarrantedabuse of this program by some participants. All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn fromover 200,000,000 company and 600,000,000 individual email addresses and namesfrom all over the world. This promotional program takes place annually. We hope with part of your winning you will take part in our next year USD400 million international lottery. To file for your claim, please contact our/your fiducial agentDR.MORIS DO of the,UNITRUST TRUST AGENCYTEL: +31-617-620-766,Email:unitrust1@netscape.net. Note that all winning must be claimed not later than 11th Nov, 2005. Afterthis date all unclaimed, funds will be included in the next stake. Please note in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications pleaseremember 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 beingpart of our promotional program. Note: Anybody under the age of 20 is automatically disqualified. Sincerely yours,MRS.SEMOING COR.Lottery Coordinator.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam