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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:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "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 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.
  • oleascontacts@netscape.net (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • oleascontacts@wowmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: LUCKY DAY <lucky@luckyday6.orangehome.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 21 Sep 2006 09:29:06 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: SEPTEMBER 2006 LOTTERY DRAWS (YOU HAVE US$1M WON).


SEPTEMBER 2006 LOTTERY DRAWS (YOU HAVE US$1M WON).
Hurray!!!

2006 WINNING NOTICE
FROM: THE LOTTERY COORDINATOR,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT

Dear Recipient,

RESULTS FOR SEPTEMBER 2006 DRAWS
Congratulations to you as we bring to your notice, the results of the Lucky Day International co-sponsored promotional lottery draws. We are happy to inform you that you have emerged a winner in the elevated 'B' category.

The draws were held prior to your notification. Participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 4,000,000 names/email addresses of individuals and companies from Africa, America, Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, Middle East, and New Zealand as part of our International Promotions Program.

You/Your Company, attached to ticket number IL252/03/78 with serial /file reference number IL25278NL drew the lucky numbers 14, 17, 19,23,28,33 (18), and consequently won in the 'elevated Category B'. You have therefore been awarded a lump sum pay out of One Million United States Dollars (US$1, 000,000.00), which is the winning payout for 'elevated Category B' winners. Batch number is KK1011.

Please contact the claims agent within 3 weeks from today via;
Name: Mr. Steve Olea
Email: oleascontacts@netscape.net
Email: oleascontacts@wowmail.com
Fax number: +31-84-754-7144.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Regards,
Rick Mettin (Assistance Director).
NB: Your winning prize is covered by an insurance bond which prevents any deduction from it. You will receive your total winning prize intact from our authorised agent (Steve Olea).

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam