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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")
  • "keep this confidential" (they don't want anyone to point out to you that this is a scam)
• 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.
  • +31617620611 (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.
  • brooksalex@alex4all.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: ALEX BROOKS <brooksalex@alex4all.com>
Date: Sat, 30 Sep 2006 13:32:25 +0200
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS YOU ARE AN EMAIL LOTTERY WINNER!!!!

FROM: THE DESK OF MANAGING DIRECTOR
ONCE SWEEPSTAKES LOTTERY
BLIDERDIJKSTRAAT 232
1021 AP,AMSTERDAM
THE NETHERLANDS
REF: EGS/2551256003/04
BATCH: 14/0017/IPD

ATTENTION:bbotzong@theinfogroup.net,

RE: AWARD FINAL NOTIFICATION.

We are pleased to inform you of the released results of the ONCE SWEEPSTAKES
LOTTERY/INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION PROGRAMS held on the 21st of August 2006. Your name
was attached to a ticket number 94918 with serial number 041 which drew the lucky numbers 3 8 2 1 9
which consequently won the lottery in the 1st category.

You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of 650,000.00 Euros (Six Hundred and Fifty
Thousand Euros Only).

Your funds are presently deposited to your reference and due to a mix up of numbers and names, we ask
you to keep this confidential until your claim has been processed and your funds remitted to your account
as this is a part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming or abuse of this program by participants.

Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our zone C {Amsterdam} European representative
office for payment. To begin your claims please contact the agent handling your payment for the
processing and remittance of your prize money to any designated account of your choice as below.

Mr. Alex Brooks
The Payment and Logistics Manager
Tel: +31 617 620 611
Email:brooksalex@alex4all.com

Remember that all prize money must be claimed not later than 28th of November 2006. After this date, all
funds will be returned to the Lottery board and declared as unclaimed.

NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your
reference, batch and prize claim track numbers in every of your correspondence your agent.
Furthermore, should there be any change of your address, do inform your claims agent as soon as
possible. Congratulations again from all members of staff of ONCE SWEEPSTAKES LOTTERY and
thank you for being a part of our promotional program.
Sincerely,
MARION GONZALEZ
MANAGING DIRECTORN PRIZE CLAIM TRACK 20432722008

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam