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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
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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:

• 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.
  • payagencies@netscape.net

Fraud email example:

From: "emily_simon11@go.com" <emily_simon11@go.com>
Date: Thu, 27 Oct 2005 09:32:18 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: CONGRATULATION!!! LOTTO WINNING NOTIFICATION


CONGRATULATION!!! LOTTO WINNING NOTIFICATION
LUCKYDAY LOTTO PROMOTION INTERNATIONALTHE DESK OF THE PROMOTIONS MANAGERINTERNATIONAL PROMOTION AWARDS DEPARTMENTRef. Number: 132/756/4534Batch number: 638901527-AMB/02 Sir/ Madam,We are pleased to inform you of the lottery result winners International programmes held on 25th October 2005. Your e-mail address was attached to ticket number 278511465896-6452 with your serial number 3772-554 drew you a lucky number 3-14-18-23-31-45 which consequently won in the first category, you are therefore been approved for lump sum pay out of US$1,000,000 (One million United states Dollars) CONGRATULATIONS ! ! ! Due to mix up of some numbers and names, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential until your claims has been processed and your money remitted to your nominated bank. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claims and unwarranted abuse of this programme by some participants. All participants were selected through an e-mail balloting system. drawn from over 40,000 company and 20,000,000 individual email addresses and names from all over the world. This promotional programme takes place every three years. This lottery was promoted and sponsored by Association of software producers. we hope with part of your winning, you will take part in our next year US$20 million international lottery. To process your lottery claims, please contact our agent below that have been appointed for the processing of your claims with your contact telephone and fax number: Mr. HARY SMITHTel: 0031 619-030-566E-mail address: payagencies@netscape.net Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than 11th November 2005. Please note, in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, remember to quote your reference number and batch number 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. Yours Sincerely,Mrs. Emily SimonLottery coordinator.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam