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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.

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:
  • "to your nominated bank account" (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)
  • "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!
• 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.
  • +31644001005 (Netherlands, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: infoclaimagent@netscape.net
Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2006 06:10:32 -0400
Subject: DETAILS

We have verified your claims to ascertain the authenticity and the genuineness of your winnings. Congratulations the verification was successful in your favour. Our main objective is to provide guidance until you receive your prize winnings. In this regard your unalloyed co-operation will be appreciated.

There are two options available for collecting your prize winnings. One of the options set out for collecting your prize winnings is bank to bank wire transfer direct to your nominated bank account. The paying bank requires winner to be fully responsible for their transfer charges cost (2,979.00 Euros) Deductions are not allowed as you will be getting the total value of the amount you have won in your nominated bank account. If this is your choice let us know so we can direct you accordingly

The second option is the postal option. We can arrange to send the draft/cheque to your postal address after your claims have been duly processed and amount paid. A draft/ cheque for the amount you have won will be issued by the Foundation. Deductions are not allowed as you will be getting the face value of the amount you have won. The draft/cheque can be paid into your personal account and it takes 24 working hours to clear through the international banking system. In this option you will be fully responsible for the cost of postage and insurance.
The charges are broken down as follows:


Postage Cost:....................................................38.00 Euros
Insurance:..........................................................640.00 Euros
Admin cost:........................................................400.00 Euros
Total Cost:.........................................................1,078.00 Euros.


This option is generally preferable to winners who do not have the financial might to set up an account. If this is preferable to you please let me know at once so that I send you instruction on how you transfer the postage cost.


Attached is a copy of your certificate of win; it is a very important document in this transaction, as you must be paid your winning prize by the foundation once the original is issued. It is also a legal instrument as it can be tendered in a court of competent jurisdiction as an important exhibit if you are not paid by the foundation. The Foundation also risks sanction by the European Gaming Board of Control if after the issuance of the certificate you are not paid.

Once again congratulations. In your response please indicate the option you prefer.



Yours Faithfully,
Paul Anderson



Claim/Payment Manager
Tel: +31-6440-010-052
Fax: +31-847-581-409




This email and its attachments, if any, are intended for the personal use of the named recipient(s) and may contain confidential, privileged, or proprietary information. If you are not a named recipient, or an agent responsible for delivering it to a named recipient, you have received this email in error. In that event, please (a) immediately notify us by reply email, (b) do not review, copy, save, forward, or print this email or any of its attachments, and (c) immediately delete and/or destroy this email and its attachments and all electronic and physical copies thereof. Thank you. Sign By Legal Department.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam