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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!
  
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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:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
• 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.
  • agentterryedward@netscape.net
  • mega_million@zwallet.com

Fraud email example:

From: MEGA MILLION SUPER LOTTO <mega_million@zwallet.com>
Reply-To: megamillionclaim@zwallet.com
Date: Tue, 21 Feb 2006 23:43:46 +0100
Subject: You Have Won US$750,000.00


Mega Million Super Lotto International
European Promotional Draws
***************************************************************************************************************
Claims Department
Ref: MMSL/065623786/06
Batch: 023/06/4123MMSL

WINNING NOTIFICATION:
We happily announce to you the draw of the Mega Million Super Lotto
International program drwas held on FRIDAY 17TH OF FEBRUARY, 2006.
Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: 50120008 with Serial
number 6002/06 drew the lucky numbers: 16-25-31-43-46-28, which subsequently
won you the lottery in the 2nd category . You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of Seven Hundred And Fifty Thousand United States Dollars ( US$ 750,000.00 )
in cash credited to file Ref: MMSL/065623786/06.This is from a total cash prize of US $ 11,250,000.00 , shared amongst the first Fiftenn (15) lucky winners in this category.
All participants were selected randomly from World Wide Web site through computer draw system and extracted from over 150,000 individual/ company e-mail addresses. This promotion takes place annually.
In view of this, your US$750,000.00 ( Seven Hundred And FiftyThousand United States Dollars) would be released to you by our payment office in Europe.
To begin your lottery claim, do contact the claims manager :
MR. TERRY EDWARD
CLAIMS MANAGER
MEGA MILLION INTERNATIONAL
agentterryedward@netscape.net.
Note that all winning must be claimed not later than 17TH APRIL,2006.
After this date all unclaimed funds will be included in the next year
sweepstake.
In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications do remember to quote
your reference and batch numbers in all correspondencies with your claims agent.
Furthermore, should there be any change of address do not hesitate inform
your claims manager as soon as possible.
Congratulations once more from our members of staff and thank you for being
part of our promotional program.
Yours Sincerely,
DR ( MRS ). STEFANIA LORENZO
Mega_million@zwallet.com
Lottery Coordinator
***************************************************************************************************************
DISCLAIMER: This communication is for the exclusive
use of the intended recipient (s) and shall not attach
any liability on the originator, Mega Million International.
If you are the addressee, the contents of this
letter are intended for your use only and it shall not
be forwarded to any third party, without first
obtaining written authorizations from the originator.
It may contain information, which is confidential and
legally privileged and the same shall not be used or
dealt with by any third party in any manner without
the specific consent of Mega Million International. CAN

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam