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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:

• 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.
  • +447011128648 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• 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.
  • edwardsmith_agent@consultant.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "rotarystakes promo" <rotaryprom117@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2007 22:57:53 -0800
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION!!!

FROM: THE DESK OF THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER.
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS / PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT
REF NUMBER: 2551256003/03.
BATCH NUMBER: 12/0002/IPD.

After a successful completion of the 2nd category draws of ROTARY STAKES
PROMO, We are pleased to inform you of the result today, 23rd of february,
2007 winners of the ROTARY STAKES PROMO / INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS held on
the 22nd of NOVEMBER , 2006. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number
111-2465-2000-100 with serial number 3543-07 drew lucky numbers
12-16-22-39-39-43 which consequently won in the 2nd category, you have
therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of (1,200,000.00 Euro)
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
For security purpose and clarity, we advise that you keep your
winninginformation confidential until your claims have 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 companies and 30,000,000 individual email
addresses and names from all over the world. This program takes place every
year and we look forward to your active participation in our end of year 5
Million EURO Slot.
Note that, all winnings must be claimed not later than three weeks after
notification. After this date all unclaimed funds will be null and void.
Congratulations once more and thank you for being part this program. You are
advised to contact your claims agent on the procedure to claim your
winnings.

(EDWARD SMITH AND ASSOCIATES)
Email:- edwardsmith_agent@consultant.com
Sincerely yours,
MANAGING DIRECTOR:
MRS.GLORIA JAMES
(ROTARY STAKES PROMO) NL.
PHONE:+447011128648
FAX:447005968221

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam