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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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.

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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "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.
  • vandanser2005@netscape.net

Fraud email example:

From: Van Riche <van.riche13@virgilio.it>
Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2006 17:40:48 +0100
Subject: BEGINNING OF THE YEAR PROMOTION FOR WEB USERS

NOTE:PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS OFFICE, MAKE SURE YOU CONTACT YOUR CLAIMS
AGENT ABOVE, ALSO MAKE SURE YOU SEND DOWN YOUR PHONE AND FAX NUMBERS TO
YOUR CLAIMS OFFICER

FREE LOTTO AGENCY BV
FREE LOTTO PLAZA,
SUITE 1102A
AMSTERDAM ZUID-OOST
AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS

Ref: OYL/34536380986/05
Batch: 05/763638/IPD

Dear Sir/Madam,

WINNING NOTIFICATION!!!!!!!!!!

We happily announce to you the draw of the FREE
LOTTO AGENCY BV Sweepstake Lottery International programs held IN THE NETHERLANDS. This is
computer generated lotto's of internet users using email addresses as draws.

Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: 275-189-657-23-05 with Serial number 8756-05 drew the
lucky numbers: 5 12 45 57 87 90, which subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category.

You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of 850,000.00 (Eight hundred and fifty Thousand
Euros) in cash credited to file OYL/34536380986/05.This is from a total cash prize of 8,500,000 Million
Euros, shared amongst the first Ten (10) lucky winners in this category.

All participants were selected randomly from World Wide Web site through computer draw system and
extracted from over 100,000
companies.This promotion takes place annually.

Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our European booklet representative office in
Europe as indicated in your play coupon.

In view of this, your €850,000.00 (Eight hundred and fifty Thousand Euros) would be released to you
by our payment office in Europe.

Our European agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your funds as
soon as you contact him.

For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claims is
process and your money remitted to you in whatever manner you deem fit to claim your prize.

This is 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 on time, please contact your claims agent:

MR VAN DAN SER
EMAIL: vandanser2005@netscape.net
TELE/FAX: +31-205-241-255.

to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please quote your reference/batch numbers in any
correspondences with us or our
designated agent.

Congratulations once more from all members and staff of this program and the European Union.

Thank you for being part of our promotional lottery Program.

Sincerely,
MR.VAN RICHIE
FREE LOTTO AGENCY BV
Co-coordinator

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam