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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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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.

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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")
• 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.
  • +31622772193 (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.
  • firstlinks@consultant.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Anna Blake <anna@anna17.orangehome.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 2 Dec 2006 22:48:46 +0100 (CET)
Subject: Winning Notice:


Winning Notice:
Lucky No: 2144/0016
YOUR WINNING DETAILS
Ref No: CHN/23520607/14
Batch No: 14/0017/IPD
serial No: GMLA2-003
Ticket No: 12037
Attn: Lottery Winner,
FINAL NOTICE NOTIFICATION.
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Staatsloterij.nl lottery programs held on 28th of November 2006 with your e-mail address attached to one of the winning ticket numbers. You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of 550,000.00 (Five Hundred and Fifty Thousand Euros)
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
All participants were selected through a computer ballot system from our sponsors databases,including over 50,000 companies and 150,000 individual E-mail addresses and names submitted by our agents drawn from Asia, Africa, Europe, North And South America and around the world.
To begin your claim, do file for the release of your winning by contacting our accredited agent:
MR. DAVID SMITH
Foreign Operations Manager,(FIRSTLINKS SECURITIES BV.) for Statsloterij NL
Tel: +31-622-772-193
Fax: +31-847-473-870
Email: firstlinks@consultant.com
NOTE: All winnings must be notarized to complete the claim process; winners will be referred to a Foreign Transfer Manager, to have their winnings notarized, all winners are to cover the legal charges, not STAATSLOTERIJ. NL,
Please note that you will be required to pay for the issuance of your winning certificate and all winnings must be claimed not later than 15th of DECEMBER 2006,after this date all unclaimed winnings will be null and void.
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 agents as soon as possible.
Congratulations once more and thank you for being part of our promotional program.
Note: Anybody under the age of 18 is automatically disqualified.
Consult your claims agent now.
Yours faithfully,
MRS. ANNA BLAKE

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam