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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:

• 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:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "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.
  • +34686749581 (Spain, 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.
  • aclotter@myway.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: aclottery@netscape.net
Date: Wed, 16 Aug 2006 15:16:30 -0400
Subject: CONGRATULATION

INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARDDEPT
REF NO: OGS/98851266004/04
BATCH NO: 344/30
AWARD NOTIFICATION

ANTT:Amarjit Singh

resultsof the ONCE NETHERLANDS SWEEPSTAKE LOTTERY/NEW YEAR
HIGHSTAKE INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM held on 13th of agut 2006.
Your email and name was attached to theticket number 102571464979529
with serial number 85176 - 0059 drew the lucky numbers 191522373945 - 99
which consequently won the lottery in the 1stcategory of the year You have
therefore been approved for a lump
sum payout of EURO625,000,00 (SIX HUNDRED AND TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND
EUROS ONLY) in cashcredited to file REF.NO:OGS/98851266004/04.
This is from a total cash prize of EURO10,625,000.00 (TEN MILLION, SIX
HUNDRED AND TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND EUROS)
shared among the seventeen international winners in this
category.
CONGRATULATIONS! .
Your fund is now deposited with a security company insured in your name and
references. Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep
this
award from public notice until your claim has been processed and your money
remitted to your nominated
account, as this is a part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming
or
unwarranted taking advantage of this program by participants. All
participants were
selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 25,000 names from
Europe and NorthAmerica as part of our yearly program, which we conduct once
every year. We hope with a part of your prize money, you will take part in
our next (summer) high stake of multimillion Euros international lottery.To
begin your claim, please contact your claims agent, Mr.JOHN SABASTIEN , Foreign
Operations Manager, AC Lotter M.C on Tel No:+34 686 749 581 or Email:aclotter@myway.com
for final vetting and remittance of your prize money to a designated account of
your choice. Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later than 15th
sept 2006 to avoidwithholding policies being applied.NOTE: In order to avoid
unnecessary delays and complications,please remember to quote your reference and
batch numbers in all your correspondence. Furthermore, should there be anychange
of your address, do inform your claims agent as soon as possible.
Congratulations again from all members of our staffand thank you for being part
of our promotion program.

Sincerely,
MR. FRANK

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam