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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
• 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.
  • gdlclaimscdntor@aim.com

Fraud email example:

From: rita@cruiz2.orangehome.co.uk
Date: Thu, 30 Nov 2006 17:38:02 +0100 (CET)
Subject: CONTACT DR.JOSE BOWER FOR CLAIMS.


CONTACT DR.JOSE BOWER FOR CLAIMS.
GREATER DAYS LOTTERJ NL
Postbus 2840,1049BD Florijn
Amsterdam,Netherlands
REF Number:GDL6/8219/06
BATCH Number:9/274/GDL
Dear Sir/Madam
We are hereby announce the result of GREATER DAYS LOTTERJ winners international programs in which your e-mail address was attached to ticket number 6-5642753827734022 with serial number 4544811,lottery and draw lucky numbers 9/5/21/28/36/87 which won a lump sum pay out of One Million Euros Only.
This email was generated through a special software and the participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from over Fifty Thousand company's and Twenty two Million individual email addresses and names from all over the world.This lottery was promoted and sponsored by Association of software producers.
To file for your claim, please contact your claims coordinator with your Name,Telephone /Fax numbers,Age and Nationality.
DR. JOSE BOWER,
Remittance Director/Claims Coordinator,
Tel: 0031626417111
Email:gdlclaimscdntor@aim.com
We the entire staff of Greater Days Lotterj congratulates you for being part of our promotional program.
Note: You must be 18 or over to claim a price.
Yours Sincerely,
Mrs.Rita Cruiz,
For Management.
GREATER DAYS LOTERIJ
COPYRIGHT © 1994-2006 ALL RIGHT RESERVED

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam