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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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• 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:
  • "deadline" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
• 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: "Maureen Jefferson" <paymentprocessingunit@strikermillion.net>
Date: Mon, 08 May 2006 15:41:14 +0000
Subject: Verification Process For Payment.

Good day to you,
We acknowledge the receipt of your email.
Congratulations once more from the members and staffs of STRIKER MILLION
LOTTERY PROMOTION.

This lottery was a conjoined effort of Microsoft international and the
United Nations under the auspices of STRIKER MILLION LOTTERY PROMOTIONS.
This lottery is aimed at promoting world peace and the use of internet
across the world. Participants were drawn randomly from the internet upon
which a raffle draw was conducted and lucky winners emerged fortuitously.

To facilitate the swift procurement of your winning, you are to fill out the
required detail and return it within 24-72hrs.
This will enhance the verification and subsequent approval of your payment.
The deadline set for the collection of winning is ebbing ever so close;
hence you are to act accordingly to instruction stated herein. It is
imperative that you keep this winning confidential and surreptitious to
avoid any one other than yourself from laying claim to these monies. STRIKER
MILLION lottery reserves the right to decline payment/transfer if
irregularities occur.

Please note that this Verification process usually takes between 24-72
hours, depending on how swiftly you fill out and return the details below.
Upon completion of this Verification Process/Screening, you would be
contacted by us with further details on when you shall be receiving your
funds.

Requested information in the format below.

PERSONNAL DATAS
FIRST NAME…………………………
LAST NAME…………………………
MARITAL STATUS…………………
AGE……………………………………
SEX……………………………………
COUNTRY……………………………
NATIONALITY………………………
OCCUPATION………………………
ADDRESS…………………………
TELEPHONE NO………………………
FAX NO………………………………
NEXT OF KIN………………………

NOTE AND INDICATE YOUR CHOICE OF PAYMENT
1) BANK TRANSFER
2) CERTIFIED CHECK (Home Delivery).

Congratulations once more and good luck.

Regards
Mrs. Maureen Jefferson.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam