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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!
  
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• 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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "microsoft lottery"
• 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: Larry cole <larrycole_2@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 6 Apr 2007 21:53:38 +0100 (BST)
Subject: TREAT AS URGENT


Attn:Mr Roland Kaufitz,

Congratulations ones more,You don't need to be perplexed about the mail you receive,as you where selected as one of the lucky winner of the MICROSOFT LOTTERY PROMO all you need to do now is to adhere to every instructions that will be given to you,to enable them commence with the processing of your winnings.You are to provide your full name,age,residential address,and your personal phone number.As soon as we receive the following details,we 'll commence with the processing to release your winning funds to you.Awaiting your urgent response.

Regards

Larry Cole




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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam