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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:
  • "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.
  • alexnchambers@alex4all.com

Fraud email example:

From: Hon.Gordon Jones <free1lottery06@walla.com>
Reply-To: alexnchambers@alex4all.com
Date: Sat, 04 Feb 2006 00:02:41 +0200
Subject: Winning reference number is: F - 1. 914110C


FREE - 1.COM Lottery
United States of America
http://www.free-1.com
Tel/Fax: 001-309-4059940

FREE-1.COM FREE MILLION DOLLARS LOTTO
Winning reference number is: F - 1. 914110C
FREE - 1.COM Lottery draw was sponsored by United States Government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in her relentless effort to eradicate poverty.

This email is meant to inform you that you have won a cash prize of One Million United States Dollars ($1,000,000.00) in second category in the FREE - 1.COM Lottery online Charity draw held in United States of America.
Your email ID won in the Charity Lottery held on the 1st of February 2006.

The five winning emails in the FREE - 1.COM online Charity Lottery draw were selected randomly from each country of the world through electronic draw system.

Your winning reference number is: F- 1. 914110C

Our accredited agent in Johannesburg - South Africa has been advised to immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your funds. Please request for winning validation requirement from the accredited agent.


You are advised to contact the accredited agent, Dr. Frank Davies: Note: It is important that you forward your winning reference numbers, your winning email address, your full name and your contact telephone and fax numbers to the accredited agent:

Contact Person: Dr. Frank Davies.
Tel / Fax: +27-11-5075658
Email: alexnchambers@alex4all.com

Please be informed that Dr. Frank Davies will be responsible for the processing and transfer of your winnings file to the paying bank in the South Africa. Note that your winning must be claimed not later than 28th of February 2006 to enable the preparations of next month draw. SAY NO TO POVERTY.

Yours Sincerely,

Hon. Gordon Jones
FREE - 1.COM online Charity Lottery Coordinator.
-----------------------------------------------
IMPORTANT CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail may contain confidential information and privileged material and it is intended only for the use of the recipient addressed. If you are not the intended recipient of this message you are hereby notified that any use, review, retransmission, dissemination, distribution, reproduction or any action taken in reliance upon this message is prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact the Sender, FREE - 1.COM online Charity Lottery Coordinator and delete it from your in-box. Any disclosure, copying, distribution or action on the contents of this e-mail is strictly prohibited. - SAY NO TO POVERTY.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam