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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:
  • "cheques " (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.
  • william_141414@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: "willam141414" <willam141414@jubii.dk>
Date: Sat, 18 Feb 2006 01:08:07 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: AWARD DEPARTMENT


VIRGIN ATLANTIC/ MIDLAND RESOURCES UK INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT Dear Winner, We are please to announce you as one of the 10 lucky winners in VIRGIN ATLANTIC Free Lottery draw held on the 3rd of January 2006. All 10 winning addresses were randomly selected from a batch of 50,000,000 International emails.Your email address emerged alongside 9 others as a category B winner in this year's Annual Free Lotto Draw. Consequently,you have therefore been approved for a total pay out of US$500,000.00 (Five hundred Thuosand United stated Dollars) only.The following particulars are attached to your lotto payment order: i)winning numbers: 37-13-43-85-67-11.BV (ii) email ticket number: VA754/22/76 (iii) lotto code number: VA09622UK (iv) the file Ref number: VA/04/736207152/UK Please contact the under listed claims officer as soon as possible for the immediate release of your winnings: Mr.Bosi OniehCo-ordinator The International Free lotto Company Europe / Afrifcan Rigi
on (william_141414@yahoo.co.uk) Tel:0044 207 019 7042. Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than 31st January 2006.After this date all unclaimed funds will be included in the next stake.Please note in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications please remember to quote your reference number and batch numbers in all correspondence.Furthermore, this communication should be kept confidential until you receive your winning Cheques in order to avert double claims. should there be any change of address do inform our agent as soon as possible. Congratulations once more from our members of staff and thank you for being part of our promotional program. Note:Anybody under the age of 18 is automatically disqualified. yours Sincerely Dr.WILLIAM SUMITH Promotions Manager

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam