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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:

• 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:
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned 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 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.
  • agentlottery@yahoo.ca (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "NET LOTTERY" <netlottery26@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: lotteryagent002@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2006 13:58:42 +0100
Subject: AWARD NOTIFICATION, FINAL NOTICE.

EUROAFRIC LOTTERY ORGANIZATION.
PLOT 1009 JAVANDA HILLS AKPAKPA,
COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC.
DATE.28/01/2006.

FROM: THE DESK OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPT
REF NO: EGS/2551256003/02
BATCH NO: 14/0017/IPD

ATTN: STICK WINNER.

RE: AWARD NOTIFICATION, FINAL NOTICE.

We are pleased to inform you, that as a result of our RECENT
LOTTERYDRAWS HELD on the 5th of SEPTEMBER. 2005.Your
e-mail address attached to ticket number:11 23 34 38 48 49 46 750 with
serial number:211305 drew lucky numbers:13 15 22 37 39 which
consequently won in the 2nd category.

you have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay of $560.00USD.[FIVE
HUNDRED AND SIXTY THOUSAND only).

Note that All participants in this lottery program have been selected
randomly through a computer ballot system drawn from over 20,000
companie and 30,000,000 individual email addresses from all searchengines
and web sites.This promotional program takes place every year,and it is
promoted and sponsored by eminent personalities like the Sultan of
Brunei,Bill
Gates of microsoft inc and other corporate organisations.This is to
encourage
the use of the internet and computers worldwide.

For security purpose and clarity,we advice that you keep your winning
information confidential until your claims have been processed and your
money remitted to you.

This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claims and
unwarranted abuse of this program by some participants.We look forward to
your
active participation in our next 4million euro slot.

You are required to contact your claim agent DR.F.BUDARI ,Foreign
Operations Manager,EUROAFRIC INTERNATIONAL LOTTO PROMOTION at
Email[agentlottery@yahoo.ca ] ]processing and remittance of your
prize money to Your designated account of your choice.

All winnings must be claimed not later than one month After the date of
this notice.Please note,in order to avoid unnecessary delays and
complications,Remember to quote your reference number and batch numbers in
all correspondence.

Furthermore,should there be any change of address do inform your claim
agent as soon as possible.

Congratulations once more and thank you for being part of our
promotional program.

NOTE: YOU ARE AUTOMATICALLY DISQUALIFIED IF YOU ARE
BELOW 18 YEARS OF AGE.
Sincerely,

MRS. VERA LUCAS.
VICE PRESIDENT.
INTL LOTERIA PRIMITIVA

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam