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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.

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:
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "million united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
• 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.
  • robsowe@myway.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Departmentof lotto" <lstarlotterys@msn.com>
Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2006 10:07:39 +0000
Subject: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YOU HAVE WON !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DNL-GH
Department of National Lottery
Plot 26/167 February Road Accra Ghana
P. O Box 1139 Accra Ghana
Ref. Number: TK-756/04222B
Serial Number 2917-323
PIN NUMBER: A01783324-B


We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Lottery Winners
International programs held on the 29/12/2005. Your e-mail address attached
to ticket number :310878GH655BE which
consequently won in the category B section , you have therefore been
approved for a lump sum pay out of US$2,000,000.00 (Two Million United
States dollars).

CONGRATULATIONS!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!! 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 60,000 company and 40,000,000 individual email addresses and names from
all over the world. This promotional program takes place quarterly every
year.

The lottery promo Awards is proudly Sponsored by RexTech, Sony Europe , the
Intel
Group, Toshiba,Mackintosh and a conglomeration of other International IT
companies situated in the EU.

To file for your claim, please contact our Claims Agent with the below
contact information: Contact Person: Mr Robin Owens (Lottery Director)
Email: robsowe@myway.com

Please confirm to our Claims Agent with your personal information:

1. Your Full Name
2. Contact Address
3. Telephone Number
4. Fax Number
5. Country of Resident
6. Your Winning Ticket Number
7. Occupation
8. Age

Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than 21 days from the first
date of this Notification. 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,serial number and pin number in all
correspondence to your claim agent.

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.

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE : If you have any reason to feel that this mail is not
suppose to me sent to you ,please "DO DELETE" immediately to avoid any abuse
to our promotional lottery Organization

Yours Sincerely,
Dr.Mariam Peston
Zonal Cordinator

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam