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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• 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:

• 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!

Fraud email example:

From: laura@laurastroij.orangehome.co.uk
Date: Wed, 27 Dec 2006 13:35:23 +0100 (CET)
Subject: Your Prize Notice


Your Prize Notice
Lucky No: 902122-53
Ref No: DUX/235427/14
Batch No: 14/0017/IPD
serial No: GMLA2-003
Ticket No: 12037.
Attn: Lottery Winner,
FINAL WINNING NOTIFICATION.
We are pleased to inform you of the results of the Staatsloterij.nl lottery
programs held on 22nd of December 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 for Statsloterij NL
Tel/Fax: +31-847-473-870
Email: infostaats4u@aol.com

NOTE: All winnings must be Notarized to complete the Claim Process. Winners
are 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 10TH of JANUARY
2007,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.
Contact your claims agent now!

Yours faithfully,

MISS LAURA STROIJ

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam