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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!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash)
• 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!

Fraud email example:

From: Weeks <apexgmbh@di-ve.com>
Date: Thu, 04 May 2006 14:10:53 +0200
Subject: LOTTERY WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Euromillion Lotery Germany
Potsdamnerplatz 10
Berlin Germany
Ref. N? PGB/007/05/12/MAD.
Batch. N? GHT/2907/333/06.
YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS WON THIS YEAR EURO MILLION
LOTTERY.
We wish to congratulate you over your email success in our computer
balloting sweepstake held on 2nd January2006. This is a millennium
scientific computer game in which email addresses were used. It is a
promotional program aimed at encouraging internet users; therefore you do
not need to buy
ticket to enter for it your email address attached to ticket star number
(4-5) drew the EUROMILLION lucky numbers 3-19-26-49-50 which consequently
won the draw in the Second category. You have been approved for the star
prize of EUR 667,248.26. (Six Hundred And Sixty Seven Thousand, Two
Hundred and Fourty Eight Euros. Twenty Six Cents)
CONGRATULATIONS !!!
You are advised to keep this winning very confidential until you receive
your lump prize in your account or optional cheque issuance to you.
This is a protective measure to avoid double claiming by people you may
tell as we have had cases like this before, please send your Full
Name,Home and Office Tel Fax Number, Mobile Tel Number and your winning
ticket number,reference numbers and amount won information for processing
of your winning fund to our registered claim agent in addrres below.
APEX Trust AGENCY GMBH,
Mr.Morris Weeks
Address: Potsdamnerplatz 10
Berlin Germany.
E-mail:apexgmbh@holani.com
Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than 24th of May,
2006.Please note, in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications,
remember to quote your reference number and batch number in all
correspondence.
Furthermore, should there be any change of address do inform our agent as
soon as possible.
Once again congratulations.
Best regard,
Mrs. Emily Simon,
Lottery coordinator.
This promotional program takes place every year. This lottery was promoted
and sponsored by THE MANAGEMENT OF THE STAATSLOTERIJ COMPANY B.V AND
SULTAN OF BRUNEI, we hope with part of your winning you will take part on
our next year ?2 million international lottery.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam