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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:
  • "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash)
• 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.
  • adams-adolphus@hotmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Compaqnet Sweepstake Lottery Organization" <wining_notification@compaqnet.net>
Date: Thu, 16 Feb 2006 10:50:43 +0000
Subject: Claim your online lottery payment

Compaqnet Sweepstake Lottery Organization.
International Promotions Prize Dept.
Units 2A & 2B, Olympic Way,
Sefton Business Park, Aintree Liverpool,
L30 1RD. United Kingdom.

REF No: EGS/2251256003/05
BATCH No: 14/0017/1PD

RE: AWARD NOTIFICATION/ FINAL NOTICE.

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the NEW PRODUCTS SALES
SWEEPSTAKE INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY PROGRAM which was held on the 2nd January
2006. Due to mix up of names, the results was finally released on 31st
January 2006. Your E-mail address attached to a
ticket number 025-11464992-750 with serialnumber 2113-05 drew the lucky
numbers 4-18-24-30-31-35, which consequently won the lottery in the "B"
category. You have therefore been approved for a lump sum payout of
US$300,000.00 (Three Hundred Thousand US Dollars in cash credited
to the file reference number: EGS/2251256003/05.This is from a total cash
price of US$1,500,000.00 (One Million Five Hundred Thousand USDollars)
shared among five (5) international winners in this "B" category.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Due to the mix up of some numbers and names, we advice that you keep this
award from public notice until your claims has been processed and your
cheque send to you as this is part of our security protocol to avoid double
claiming or unwarranted taking advantage of this program by the general
public.

All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from
25,000 names and E-mail addresses from Asia, Europe,America and North
America as part of the international products
promotions program which we conduct twice every year. We hope that with part
of your prize, you will part-take in our summer (mid-year) high
stakepromotionsagenda of $7MILLION international lottery.

To claim your Prize, please contact our payment co-ordinator on:-
***********************************************
Mr. Adams Adolphus
E-mail:adams-adolphus@hotmail.com
Tel:44-7040111355
Fax:44-7005963892
Tel:44-7005963846
***********************************************
Note that all prize funds must be claimed not later than 31th
march.2006.After this date all funds will be returned as unclaimed for the
next sweepstake.In order to avoid unnecessary delays
and complications, please endeavor to quote your reference and batch numbers
in every correspondence with your claims agent or us. Furthermore, should
there be any change in your address, do inform your claims agent as soon as
possible.

Congratulations once again from all members of our staff and thanks for
being a winner of our Sales promotions program. NOTE: Any breach of
confidentiality on the part of the winners will result to instant
disqualification. You are automatically disqualified if you are below 18
years of age. Contact the payment co-ordinator by telephone,fax or email as
instructed above.

Mrs. Jennifer Morgan
Co-ordinator

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam