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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.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "million united states dollars" (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)
• 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.
  • +31651511358 (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.
  • sponsorlott26@netscape.net (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "vanessa thomas" <sponsor_thomas60@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 08 Jul 2006 09:26:34 -0400
Subject: PLEASE CONTACT OUR FIDUCIAL AGENT.

PLEASE CONTACT OUR FIDUCIAL AGENT.
SPONSOR BINGO LOTTERIJ INTERNATIONAL NL
Ref. Number: 654/998/704-RE
Batch+ Number: 762/700/111-849-BA
Sir/Madam
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Lottery Winners
International programs held on the 7th July, 2006. Your e-mail
address attached to ticket number 60735768-6438-BC with serial
number 53674-876-SE drew lucky numbers D-11-43-32-64-55-LK which
consequently won in the 2nd category,you have therefore been
approved for a lump sum pay out of US$ 1000,000.00(one million
United States Dollars) 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. This promotional program takes
place every three years. This lottery was promoted and sponsored by
Presidents of the World Largest softwares, we hope with part of your
winning you will take part in our next year USD50 million
international lottery.

To file for your claim, please contact our FIDUCIAL Agent MR.Jan van
Brook of the SPONSOR BINGO LOTERIJ AGENCY. Tel:+31-651-511-358,
EMAIL:sponsorlott26@netscape.net
Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than 25th of
July,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.

yours Sincerely,

Mrs. Vanessa Thomas

(Lottery Coordinator)

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam