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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:
  • "from: the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "fiduciary 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.
  • +447024073465 (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.
  • mail_paulsmith001@strompost.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: MICROSOFT EMAIL LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL <mail_paulsmith001@strompost.com>
Date: 4 Apr 2007 02:01:56 +0200
Subject: CONTACT PAUL SMITH!!!

Content-Type: text/plain
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit


MICROSOFT EMAIL LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL.
HOOFGHESS 103 KL
1102 GH,
AMSTERDAM-NETHERLANDS.

FROM: THE DESK OF THE VICE PRESIDENT.
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD.

BACTH NO: 213-127-798-ppl1102.
SERIAL NO; 63-PR-LD44

FINAL WINNING NOTIFICATION,

Attn, Winner

This is to inform you of the release of the MICROSOFT EMAIL LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL/ WORLD GAMING BOARD held on the 27th March, 2007 Due to the mix up of numbers, the results were released on the 8th March, 2007. Your name attached to ticket666/09/pr also with drew the lucky numbers of 7-9-2-8 which consequently won the lottery in the 1st category. You have therefore been approved for payment NINE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY.( US$950,000.00 ) cash credited to file with REF. NO.633/98/401

CONGRATULATIONS: 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 only Microsoft users from over 20,000 company, and 3,000,000 individual email addresses and names from all over the world. This promotional program takes place every three years. For your processing of your claim please contact our fiduciary agent in the legal department.

Mr. Paul Smith
Information and Payment Bureau:
London Representative Office.
Phone: +44-702-407-3465
:+44-702-407-4166
E-mail: mail_paulsmith001@strompost.com
MICROSOFT EMAIL LOTTERY INTERS

Processing and remittance of your winning prize money to a destination of your choice. Any claim not made before 10th August this day will be returned to the MINISTERIAL VAN DE ECONOMIA NETHERLANDS. Note that all unclaimed funds will be included in the next stake.

Also in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, remember to quote your reference number and batch numbers in all your correspondence with Mr. Paul Smith. Please follow all his instructions. Furthermore, should there be any change of address do inform us as quickly as possible. Congratulations once more from our members of staff and thank you for
being part of our promotional program.

You are therefore advised to give the following informations to the fiduciary agent Mr.Paul Smith
via email : mail_paulsmith001@strompost.com
1. Full name and address.
2. Country.
3. Tel and fax number.
4. Occupation.
5.Email Address.

Congratulations from the entire member of staff and thank you for being part of our email account users program.

Note: Anybody under the age of 18 is automatically disqualified.

Yours Sincerely,
Sandra Blaze Hoornbeck
Vice President,
MICROSOFT EMAIL LOTTERY INTERS

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam