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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.
• 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.
  • agentvelder@netscape.net (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Robert Heinz" <goldstar_e_games01@sympatico.ca>
Date: Tue, 14 Mar 2006 16:27:28 +0000
Subject: E-MAIL RESULT

E-MAIL RESULT

Lotto Winners of €1,500,000.00 Euros
GOLDSTAR INTERNATIONAL ONLINE E-GAMES
Ref. Number: 333/000/6118
Batch Number: WW2202222-SS77

Sir/Madam
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Lottery Winners
International programs held on the 24th February 2006. Your e-mail
address attached to ticket number 566677700022 with serial number 3331-
661 drew lucky numbers 20-70-35-49-41-45-46 which consequently won in
the 2ND category, you have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay
out of 1,500,000.00(One Million fIVE Hundred Thousand Euros)
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 20,000 company and 30,000,000 individual email addresses and names from
all over the world we hope with part of your winning you will take part in
our next year
USD50 million internationallotto.To fill for your claim, please contact our
Lottery co ordinator,

Mr Van Der Velder
GERTENBACHSTAAT 90
1106 WC AMSTERDAM
THE NETHERLAND
TEL:31-649-218-888
FAX:31-847-520-740
Email:agentvelder@netscape.net

Remember all winning must be claimed not
later than 20th 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. Furthermore,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.

Sincerely yours,
Mr Sara Borsch
(Secretary).

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam