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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
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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:
  • "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 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.
  • +31616223143 (Netherlands, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • edwardclark55@netscape.net

Fraud email example:

From: NETHERLANDS LOTO PW <lotopw@netscape.net>
Date: Tue, 07 Mar 2006 07:17:13 +0100
Subject: RE: BONUS LOTTERY


****************************************************************************
FROM: GOVERNMENT ACCREDITED LICENSED LOTTERY PROMOTERS. WINNING NOTICE
FOR CATEGORY \"A\" WINNER
****************************************************************************
Dear Lucky Winner,
RE: BONUS LOTTERY PROMOTION PRIZE AWARDS WINNING NOTIFICATION. We are
pleased to inform you of the result of the just concluded annual final draws
of De Lotto Netherlands International Lottery programs.The online cyber
lotto draws was conducted from an exclusive list of 25,000 e-mail addresses
of individual and corporate bodies picked by an advanced automated random
computer search from the internet. No tickets were
sold.
After this automated computer ballot,your e-mail address emerged as one of
two winners in the category \"A\" with the following;
"Ref Number: PC 390 ES 214
Batch Number: 26371545-LNI/2005
Ticket Number: PCP 002 871"
You as well as the other winners are therefore to receive a cash prize of
500,000.00 Euros ( FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND EURO) each from the total payout.
Your prize award has been insured with your e-mail address and will be
transferred to you upon meeting our requirements,statutory obligations,verifications,validations and satisfactory report.To begin the claims processing of
your prize winnings you are advised to contact our licensed and accredited
claims Agent for category \"A\"
winners with the information below;
Mr.Edward Clarks,
Remittance Department Director,
Netherlands Development Finance Company [Lotto Netherlands-Loto PW.
LOTO PW.BV.
Address:6943,24 TD,
AMSTERDAM THE-NETHERLANDS.
E-mail:edwardclark55@netscape.net
Tel:+31 616 223143
Fax:+31-84-759-2776
NOTE: All winnings must be claimed not later than 20 days. After this date
all unclaimed funds would be included in the
next stage. Remember to quote your reference information in all
correspondence.You are to keep all lotto information
away from the general public especially your reference and ticket numbers.
(This is important as a case of double claims will not be
entertained).Members of the affiliate agencies are automatically not allowed
to participate in this program.
Thank you and congratulations!!!
Yours faithfully,
Mrs. Ruth Maryland
Games/Lottery Coordinator.
De Lotto Netherlands International loto pw.
****************************************************************************
***
This email may contain information which is confidential and/or
privileged.
The information is intended solely for the use of the individual or
entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient, be aware that any
disclosure, copying, distribution or use of the contents is
prohibited.If you have received this electronic transmission in error,
please notify the sender by telephone or return email and delete the
material from your computer.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam