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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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 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.
  • +31625204710 (Netherlands, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "FREE - 1.COM Lottery " <free1lottery@ablewise.com>
Date: Wed, 08 Feb 2006 22:16:55 -0300
Subject: CLAIM YOUR PRIZE - Winning reference number is: F - 1. 914110C

FREE - 1.COM Lottery
United States of America
http://www.free-1.com


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 the
FREE - 1.COM Lottery online Charity draw held in United States of America.
Your email ID won in the Charity Lottery held on Saturday the
4th of January 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 Den Haag - The Netherlands 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. Bob Akan Chawa: Note:
It is important that you forward your winning reference
numbers, your winning email address, your full name and your contact
telephone numbers to the accredited agent:

Contact Person: Dr. Bob Akan Chawa.

Tel: +31-625-204-710
Email: free1lottery@netscape.com

Please be informed that Dr. Bob Akan Chawa will be responsible for the
processing and transfer of your winnings
file to the paying bank in the Netherlands. Note that your winning must be
claimed not later than 20th 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