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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "part of our security protocols" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • +31610085416 (Netherlands, prepaid mobile phone)
  • +31630329711 (Netherlands, 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.
  • ecoworldinter@netscape.net (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "john lukt" <internetsoftware02@msn.com>
Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2006 11:37:02 +0000
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION!!!

MICROSOFT INTERNET SWEEPSTAKES B.V
12Z MASS STRAAT,
1601NZ AMSTERDAM OOST,
AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS.


FROM: THE OFFICE OF THE MANAGING DIRECTOR.
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION/PRIZE AWARD DEPT
S.C.F.N; BLT239740988/2006/YH
BATCH: VNF1768367474AAF.
TEL/Fax; 0031-630-329-711
ATTN: CEO

Dear Winner,

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Internet compensation=20
promotion programs held on the 16th of January, 2006 and it is aimed at=20
compensating frequent Internet explorers in all over the world. Your e-ma=
il=20
address attached to ticket number; HJ128674788 with serial number=20
MKJ2348909NB2006, batch number VNF1768367474AAF, lottery reference number=
=20
783454UH and drew from lucky numbers 234-890-323-897 which consequently w=
on=20
in the 2nd category, you have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay =
out=20
of US$1,000,000.00 (ONE MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLAR) only by the =20
Microsoft source Company, payable in cash credited to security file numbe=
rs;=20
BLT239740988/2006/YH at the Netherlands Payment Authority.

CONGRATULATIONS!
Due to the mix up of some numbers and email addresses, we ask that you ke=
ep=20
your winning information=92s confidential until your claim has been proce=
ssed=20
and your money remitted to you in cash or into your provided bank account=
.=20
This is part of our security protocols to avoid unwarranted abuse of this=
=20
program by some participants. MICROSOFT INTERNET EXPLORATION COMPANY is a=
=20
global leader in international software producers and one of the largest=20
processor of software in the world since 1980. We have help people and=20
Businesses by providing affordable, reliable and convenient payment servi=
ces=20
and software in the world today and we have invested US$3.5b into softwar=
e,=20
hardware, a simple to use interface and it is a great opportunity to anyo=
ne=20
looking to increase sales through email marketing! so you can realize you=
r=20
dream of financial independence.

Note that all winners were selected through a computer ballot-system draw=
n=20
=66rom over 2600,000 companies and 350,000,000 personal email addresses f=
rom=20
all over the world online of which four where selected at random as winne=
rs=20
in different category.

This promotion program takes place every decade . This compensational=20
program was promoted and sponsored by William Henry Gates III and His Gia=
nt=20
cofounder of the Microsoft Corporation, holds 30.7 percent of its stock=20
making him one of the richest people in the United States and the world=20
today. He was the marketing and sales strategist behind many of Microsoft=
's=20
software deals. Their software became the industry standard in the early=20
1980s and has just increased in distribution as the company has grown,=20
Largest software producer in the world (Microsoft) and Mr. Paul Gardner=20
Allen a giant holder in souces inetrnet exploration. We hope that you wil=
l=20
have the chance of receiving compensation next decade as you keep on=20
browsing the net to boost the sales of software materials in all over the=
=20
world.

To obtain your claim, please contact the processing department;
MRS. LIZZY EDMOND,
FOR DR.LUKE DAVIES (DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS).
ECOWORLD WIDE INTERNATIONAL AGENCY BV.
(MICROSOFT ACCREDITED LOTTERY CLAIM AGENCY IN THE NETHERLANDS).
TEL: +31-610-085-416.
Email: (ecoworldinter@walla.com)(ecoworldinter@netscape.net)

Remember, all winnings must be claim not later than 31st of January, 2006=
,=20
Please note that in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications,=20
remember to always quote your S.C.F.N and BATCH NUMBER in all your=20
correspondence with Ecoworld Wide International Bv. Furthermore, should=20
there be any change of your contact address or information=92s about you,=
do=20
inform us as soon as possible to avoid disqualification of winnings.

Congratulations once again from all the members of our staff and thank yo=
u=20
for being part of our promotion program and publications. Finally, Any=20
breach of confidentiality on the part of any winners will result to=20
disqualification.

Yours Sincerely,
MRS.JOSS BOUMAN. (LOTTERY CO-ORDINATOR).
MICROSOFT INTERNET EXPLORATION.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam