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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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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "claims 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 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.
  • agent_adsinterpromo@inbox.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Mildred Hugo" <adsinterpromo@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 29 Oct 2005 14:14:35 +0000
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS !!!



TICKET NUMBER: 2752246896
SERIAL NUMBER:652-662
BATCH NUMBER :AT-040SB06-03
AWARD FINAL NOTIFICATION

We are pleased to inform you of the release, of the long awaited results
of the ADS INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION PROGRAM held on October 20th,
2005.You were entered as dependent clients with: Reference SERIAL NUMBER:
652-662 and Batch number AT-040SB06-03. Your email address attached to the
ticket number: 2752246896 that drew the lucky winning number, which
consequently won the sweepstake in the first category, in four parts.

You have been approved for a payment of $500,000.00(FIVE HUNDRED
THOUSAND DOLLARS.)in cash credited to file reference
number:IPL/4249859609/WP1.This is from a total cash prize of five million
euros shared among the ten international winners in first categories.Along
with a New Blue 2005 Honda Car.

Congratulations!!!!! All participants were selected through a computer
ballot system drawn from 50,000 (Fifty thousand) names of email users
around the world, as part of our international promotion program. Due to
mixed up of some names and addresses, we ask that you keep this award
personal, till your claims has been processed and your funds remitted to
you. This is part of our security measures to avoid double Claiming or
unwarranted taking advantage of the situation By other participants or
impersonators.

You are contacting Your/our-accredited agent for your claims:
MR KENT HOPKINS.
ADS INTERNATIONAL AGENCY.
Email:agent_adsinterpromo@inbox.com

He is your agent, and responsible for the processing and transfer of your
winnings to you. YOUR SECURITY FILE NUMBER IS W-91237-H°67/B4 (keep
personal) Remember, your winning must be claimed not later than November
30th.
Failure to claim your winning/ fund will be added to next $10,000.000
AND CAR international lottery program. Furthermore, should there be any
change in your address, do inform your claims agent as soon as possible.
Once again Congratulations.

Yours Sincerely,
Mrs Mildred Hugo.
ADS INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION/LOTTERY CO-ORDINATOR ADS LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam