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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "million 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.
  • usamegaclaim@netscape.net (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Isabella Elmer" <lottoria@MMAIL.COM>
Reply-To: megaclaimcenter@netscape.net
Date: Mon, 13 Mar 2006 19:52:06 +0100
Subject: FILE YOUR PRIZE WINNING NOW


DEAR RECIPIENT,
CLAIM YOUR WINNING PRIZE.
Your Ref. Number: 742-091X-2006
Batch Number: 6480057-BD72
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the International Lottery program held on the 11th of March, 2006.Your e-mail address ID attached to ticket number 37-51-43-29-62-61 with serial number 430753 drew lucky numbers 736-148-835-639 which consequently won in the 1st category, you have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of US$ 1,000,000.00 (One Million United States Dollars).

CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Due to mix up of some numbers, mail addresses 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 20,000 companies and 30,000,000 individual email addresses and from all over the world. This promotional program takes place every three year. This lottery was promoted and sponsored by Bill Gates and his groups, President of the World Largest software=MICROSOFT:
http://www.microsoft.com/billgates/bio.asp AND http://www.freelotto.com
We hope with part of your winning you will take part in our next USD 50 million international lottery.
To file for your claim, please contact our fiducial Agent in Europe immediately:
=======================================
DR. OSCAR DANIELS
MEGA CLAIM CENTER
MADRID SPAIN.
TEL/FAX: + 3 4605 535 337
E-Mail: usamegaclaim@netscape.net
=======================================
Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than 11th April, 2006. After this date all unclaimed Funds will be included in the next stake.
Please note in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications also remember to quote your reference number and batch numbers in all correspondence.
Furthermore, should there be any change of address do inform our agent as soon as possible.
To enable you file your winning prize, you are advised to fully comply with our co-respondent agency office.
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.
Sincerely yours,
Mrs. Isabella Elmer
Lottery Coordinator.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam