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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:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
• 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.
  • +31620464178 (Netherlands, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • netpoint_mgts@mail.wowmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Microsoft Promotions" <mcspromo1@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 5 Jul 2006 05:06:50 -0700
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS! CONTACT CLAIMS AGENT


CONGRATULATIONS! CONTACT CLAIMS AGENT
YOU ARE A WINNER
MICROSOFT GLOBAL PROMOTIONS
FROM: INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION / PRIZE AWARD .
REF: CIL/231-FMI0431/06
BATCH: IPD/15/096/MGNL
RE: WINNING NOTIFICATION/FINAL NOTICE
Sir/Madam
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Lottery Winners
International programs held on the 30th of June 2006. Your e-mail address
attached to ticket number 20511465897-6287 with serial number 472-971103
drew lucky numbers 8-66-97-22-46-88 which consequently won in the 1st
category, you have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of US$
750,000.00 (Seven Hundred & Fifty Thousand United States Dollars)
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep your winning
information very confidential till your claims has been processed and your
prize/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 200,000,000 company and 300,000,000 individual email addresses and
names from all over the world. This promotional program takes place
annually. We hope with part of your winning you will take part in our next
year USD10 million international lottery. To file for your claim, please
contact our/your fiducial agent
Dr.Roland Burne
NETPOINT CLAIMS & MANGEMENT
(Claims undewriter, Claims assessor,Claims adjustor,claim negotiator)
TEL/ 0031-620-464-178
FAX/ 0031-847-569-168 (EUROPE)
Email: Netpoint_mgts@mail.wowmail.com
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 21 is automatically disqualified.
Sincerely Yours,
Iris Hans Guus
Lottery Coordinator.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam