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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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:
  • "claim 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 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.
  • +32484142434 (Belgium, 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.
  • euromillioninfo8@netscape.net (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "vanessa thomas" <va_thom706@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 05 Oct 2006 05:53:41 -0700
Subject: YOU HAVE WON/CONTACT YOUR CLAIM AGENT NOW!!!

YOU HAVE WON/CONTACT YOUR CLAIM AGENT NOW!!!

LOTTERY WINNING NOTIFICATION/ EMAIL LOTTERY SWEEPSTAKES (ACCREDITED LICENSED
AGENT MR.RAY KARL WILLIAMS EUROMILLIONS LOTTERY AGENCY)
Ref. Number: 9-21-30-39-50-1-3 Batch Number: 3-13-16-20-GF -27
DATE: 05/10/2006
Sir/Madam
We are pleased to inform you about the result of the Euromillions Lottery
Winners International programs held on Friday the 7th of July 2006. Your
e-mail address attached to ticket number TQL18-5-80-7-3-15-22 with serial
number HK52-5-29-45-1 drew lucky numbers 53-15-10-6-30-61 draw No 40114212
with prize No 1581015/HL which
consequently won in the 1st 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 the mix up of some numbers and name's 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 25,000 company and 40,000,000 individual email addresses and names from
all over the world. This promotional program takes place every three years.
This lottery, was promoted by the software corporation and president of
e-lottery/euro millions to compensate some few individuals with website and
email addresses, we hope that with part of your winning you will take part
in our next year €50 million international lottery.

To file for your claim, please contact our FIDUCIAL AGENT:
Mr. Ray Karl Williams of EUROMILLIONS LOTTERY AGENCY.
TEL: +32-484-142-434
Email:euromillioninfo8@netscape.net
Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than 28th of October 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.
Sincerely,
Mrs.Vanessa Thomas
(Lottery Coordinator)
N.B
To file for your claim, please contact our FIDUCIAL AGENT:
Mr. Ray Karl Williams of EUROMILLIONS LOTTERY AGENCY.
TEL: +32-484-142-434
Email:euromillioninfo8@netscape.net

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam