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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
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• 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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "hundred thousand 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.
  • loctronicslotto@mynet.com
  • loctronicslotto@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: LOCTRONICS LOTTO ITALY ROMA <loctronics_lotto@mynet.com>
Reply-To: loctronicslotto@mynet.com
Date: Sun, 19 Feb 2006 14:01:26 +0100
Subject: LOCTRONICS LOTTO ITALY ROMA


LOCTRONICS LOTTO ITALY ROMA
EUROPEAN PRIZE AWARD DEPT.
REF:EL3/9318/04
BATCH:8/163/EL.
Dear Sir/Madam,
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Lottery Winners International programs held on the 18/02/2006 Your e-mail address attached to ticket number :EL-23133 with serial number: EL-123-542,batch number:EL-35,lottery ref number: EL-9-318 and drew lucky numbers 7-1-8-36-4-22 which consequently won in the 1st category, you have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of US$2,500,000.00 (Two Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States dollars).CONGRATULATIONS!!!Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep your winning information confidential until your claims has been processed and your money Remitted to you. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some participants. All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from over 40,000 company and 20,000,000 individual email addresses and names from all over the world.This promotional program takes place every year. This lottery was promoted and sponsored by a group of successful electronic dealers.we hope with part of your winning,you will take part in our next year US$20 million international lottery. To file for your claim, please contact our paying.
officer:
Contact Person:
Mr Peter Jack (Lottery Director)
Tel+ 0039-349-164-03-61.
Reply to this Email:loctronicslotto@mynet.com
Email:loctronicslotto@yahoo.co.uk
Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than 8th of March 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.Furthe rmore, 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,
Mrs MARIA LACIERTI
LOTTERY CO--ORDINATOR
LOTTO INTERNATIONAL ITALY ROMA

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam