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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "into your nominated bank account" (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 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.
  • +31646521453 (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.
  • josephkelly0@yahoo.ca

Fraud email example:

From: "lotto mega" <netherlandsregencylotto03@msn.com>
Date: Wed, 18 Jan 2006 09:40:34 +0000
Subject: THE NETHERLANDS REGENCY LOTTO WINNING NOTIFICATION

Batch No: WD34/0105/06RN
Your Ref: NL/565457014/06
Our Ref : NL/4617/06

THE NETHERLANDS OVERSEAS LOTTERY FINAL NOTIFICATION

Dear Lucky Winner,RE: BONUS LOTTERY PROMOTION PRIZE AWARDS WINNING
NOTIFICATION
We are pleased to notify you officially of the result of the Lottery
Winners International programs held on the 20th of December 2005 as part of
our
Promotional programs for the year 2005. Your e-mail address attached to
ticket number 77007742781005-18721 with reference number 414-3721060
drew winning numbers 7-00-71-00-66-49 and credited to batch number 121cfc,
which consequently won in the 3rd category via our electronic ticket as
stated above. You have therefore been approved for a pay out of 2,000,000.00
Euros (Two Million Euros).

The Total funds have now been deposited and insured with our affiliate
security firm (Bank) for transfer into your nominated bank account
either by means of wire transfers through any of our correspondent banks or
any other means suitable to you. We also advice that you keep your winning
information very confidential as our security policy demands to avoid
double claims/impersonation and unwarranted abuse of this program by some
individuals. All participants were selected through a random computer
ballot system drawn from over 800,000 company and 1,000,000 individual email
addresses and names from all over the world. This promotional program
takes place annually and we hope with part of your winning you will take
part
in our next year £20 Million Euros International Lottery.

This lottery is promoted and sponsored by software corporations and
other private organizations to help individuals generate fortunes which
would
encourage them to expand their business frontiers thereby creating more
opportunities and assisting with humanitarian concerns within their
immediate environment. Please Note that winnings must be claimed not
later than 20th of May 2006. After this date all unclaimed funds will be
included in our subsequent program coming up later in 2006. In order to
avoid
complications always quote your reference number in al Correspondence.

Furthermore, should there be any change of address do inform us as soon
as possible. Congratulations from our organization and thank you for being
part of our promotional program.

To file for your claim, please contact the lotto agency in charge of
Verifications and approvals.
Mr . Joseph Kelly
Email: josephkelly0@yahoo.ca
Phone: +31-646-521-453
Fax : 0031-847-581-345

Sincerely yours,
Mrs. MONALISA ANDERSON
Director. International Promotions Unit,
THE NETHERLANDS OVERSEAS LOTTERY,
Lloyds Complex, 1091ps, Amsterdam Zuidooeast,
Amsterdam,The Netherlands. netherlandsregencymegalotto@msn.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam