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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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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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")
• 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.
  • coastalfinance3@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: lambeth hans <lambeth@lambethhans.orangehome.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 30 Nov 2006 16:11:34 +0100 (CET)
Subject: LUCKY WINNER..


PROMOTIONAL DIAMOND LOTTERY.
BELGIUM.
Ref.N°. 0023/ 73/27/12/06.
Batch N°. ES/721053-06 BL.

Sir/Madam,
YOU HAVE WON .
------------------------------------------
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the promotional Diamond Lottery
Winners International programs held on the 29/11/2006 [ 9.00 CET], in Belgium.
Your e-mail address attached to ticket number 06453-1154 with serial number
0002005-54 drew lucky numbers 6-10-12-27-33-45 comp.14 reint.3 which
consequently won in the first category, you have therefore been approved for
a lump sum pay out of (EURO) 908,401.00. (Nine Hundred And Eight Thousand,
Four Hundred And One Euro.Zero cent.)
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 diamond program takes place every year We hope
with part of your winning you will take part in our next year EURO ?50
million international lottery. To file for your claim, please contact our
claim agent for your money.
CONTACT AGENT: COASTAL SECURITY & FINANCE.
MR. DILJK VAN HANS. Email : Coastalfinance3@aim.com
TEL/0032-485643788.
Please, note that you will be required to pay for the insurance of your
winning certificate. Be notify also that winning prize must be claimed not
later than 15/12/ 2006. After this date all unclaimed funds will be
included in the next stake.Please note in order to avoid unnecessary delays
and complications,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 again from our members of staff and
thank you for being part of our promotional program.
Yours Sincerely.
LAMBETH HANS.
LOTTERY COORDINATOR.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam