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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "transfer of your funds" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
• 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.
  • +31642873032 (Netherlands, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Dutch-Microsoft <dutchmicrosoft@aim.com>
Date: Wed, 9 May 2007 05:14:56 +0200
Subject: Congratulations! You won 1 million USD

Dutch-Microsoft Software Promotions
Middenweg 97, 1098 AG
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
REFERENCE #:67/80/IPD
BATCH #:NL-541-623-732
S.C.F #:NL-212-455-122


Dear Winner,
Congratulations!
With utmost joy, we are pleased to inform you of the result of the
Dutch-Microsoft promotional draws held on the 2nd May 2007 which drew a cash
prize of $1,000,000.00. Your e-mail address attached to Ticket/Code number 0087411652337
with claim/reference number 085093785/07 drew these lucky numbers
007-49746-041-764-64-2091, which consequently won in the 1st category. You have been approved to
receive a cash prize of $1,000,000.00 (One million USD).

Be advised that due to incessant mix up in cash prize transfer to previous
winners, we advise that you keep your winning information confidential until
your claim has been processed and released to you. This security measure is crucial; its a measure
put in place to avoid double claims, transfer and unwarranted abuse of this program by other
participants.

METHOD OF SELECTING WINNERS:
participants were selected anonymously through a private ballot system (computer
ballot) from over 35,000 companies and 70,000 individual e-mail addresses all
over the world. At the final draw your e-mail address emerged as the winner of
our last jackpot.This is promotional program takes place bi-annually as a means
of promoting our rapidly growing computer software company and also to
rewardsome individuals and corporations who have devoted their time and resources surfing the world
wide web (www) with their email addresses.And it is promoted and sponsored by Microsft
Inc.,Winning.com and the telecom giant O2.Hence this sweepstake also serve as promotion for
theservices offerred by all sponsors aforementioned.

Remember, all winnings must be claimed not later than 7 working days from
today.After the expiration of that time frame, if your funds are unclaimed, it will be refunded to us and
included in our next draws.

Lastly, in order to avoid unnecessary delays/complications with the transfer of
your funds to you, please always remember to quote your Code number in all
correspondence with our paying agent.Furthermore,should there be any change of
your present address,
please notify us immediately so we can make the appropriate adjustment.
Congratulations from the management and staff of Dutch-Microsoft, Winning.com &
O2----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------So

do kindly, immediately, contact our approved Paying Agent in The Netherlands for
your payment advice.Send them following e-mail:

I ..................................
with e-mail address:...............
contact address:....................
Ticket and code number:................,..........................
the winner of the Dutch-Microsoft, Winning.com & O2 lottery promotion
cash prize of $1,000,000.00. Kindly advise me with details of the process of the
transfer of my cash prize within the next 7-working days.

Contact details of our Paying Agent:

OSDORP FINANCE
E-mail: osdorpfinance@cbgb.net
Tel:+31 642 873 032
Fax:+31 84 714 2412
Fax:+31 84 738 5726
Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam