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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.

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:
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
• 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.
  • +27739945696 (South Africa, 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.
  • glointer@netscape.net
  • glointer05@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: glointer@netscape.net
Date: Thu, 27 Oct 2005 11:54:28 -0800
Subject: Award notification!!!

GLOBAL FREE LOTTO COMPANY INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT.
WINNING NUMBERS:37-13-43-85-67-11.BV REF:S6376527711 BATCH:S7151085135.
Attn:Winner We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Lottery Winners
International programs held on the 28TH/09/2005. Your e-mail address attached to
ticket number 653164251591-6011 with serial number 7321410,batch number\
S7151085135,lottery ref number S6376527711 and drew lucky numbers
37-13-43-85-67-11.BV which consequently won in the 1st category, you have
therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of $2.500,000.00 (Two Million,
Five Hundred Thousand Dollars) CONGRATULATIONS!!! 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 Association of software producers. We
hope with part of your winning,you will take part in our next year US$20 million
international lottery.For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning
information confidential till your claims is processed and your money remitted
to you in whatever manner you deem fit to claim your prize. This is a part of
our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this
program by some unscrupulous elements. Please be warned. To file for your claim,
please contact our fiduciary agent with the below details for processing of your
claims:

MR.VUSI NGEMA (Claims Director)
Email:glointer@netscape.net
Email:glointer05@yahoo.com
Tel. +27 739 945 696.

Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than 4th december 2005. After this
date all unclaimed funds will be included in the next stake. 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 faithfully, Mrs Laura Anderson. AFRO-ASIAN
Zonal Coordinator Promotions Manager.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam