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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
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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.
  • +31619705250 (Netherlands, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Michael Ressner <customercare@girostakes.com>
Date: Mon, 21 May 2007 17:09:48 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: Re: Filing For Lotto Claim.


Dear Email Prize Lottery Claimant,

Thanks for your mail. I am Mr. Michael Ressner your email address lotto winning claim file manager assigned to your email address lottery winning payment file and I am equally responsible for the release of your won prize of €1,000,000 (One Million Euro) after full verification. I wish to formally congratulate you on your victory, for you are such a very lucky person to have won this email address lottery prize.


This award prize is an independent promotion and is unconnected to any publication. It is organized by GIRO STAKES LOTTO NL, who is launching its new model computer balloting lottery draws machine, developed and designed to satisfy the cravings of the over growing number of participants in her various lottery programs.
Be informed that this email address lottery promotion was conducted through the internet worldwide selection, participants and winners where picked randomly through a computer ballot system and you have been picked as one of the lucky winners. This is a promotional draw which officially launches the new system and no ticket purchase is necessary. This promotion prize will be paid with funds accrued exclusively from previous draws and casinos. You are advised to treat this with seriousness.

Outlined herein are the terms and conditions for claiming your winning:
1. You must be over the eligible age of 18 years.

2. You are to provide the following information.

Any wrong information provided will result in automatic disqualification.

2i.Full Names(Family Name First):-----------------
2ii.Contact Address:--------------------------
2iii.Telephone & Fax Numbers:---------------------
2iv.Gender:--------------------------------
2v.Date of Birth:----------------------------
2vi.Maritial Status:----------------------
2vii.Nationality:-------------------------
2viii.Occupation:-----------------------
2ix.Winning Reference Number:-------------
2x. Winning Email Adress:------------------------
2xi. Preferred Mode of Claim:---------------------------
2xii. Name & Address for Next of Kin:--------------

3. Your email prize winning funds have been placed in an escrow account pending the completion of your claim process.

4. All winnings must be notarized here in The Netherlands in order to obtain your Certificate of Award and Approval from the Netherlands Gaming Control Board. It is your Notarized forms and award Certificate that will effect the release and maybe subsequent transfer of your funds to you from the authorised paying bank.

5. Any leak of your winning information resulting in a double claim will nullify your winning.

6. Note also, that you are not obliged in any way to claim this award and you have every right to reject it, as this does not affect your statutory rights.

7. Employees of GIRO STAKES LOTTO NL and their relatives are excluded from participating in this program.

8. Winners may be asked permission to publish their winnings.

9. Filing a claim (i.e sending in the requested information in section 2 of this guidelines) means acceptance of the terms and conditions of GIRO STAKES LOTTO NL.

If you agree to the terms and condition, kindly send back the required and requested information to this office for due verification/authentication of your winning details. This verification process will enable us know that we are dealing with the rightful winner and also to checkmate impersonators trying to claim other peoples winnings.
However, be informed that failure to provide the required verification information impproperly will result to the cancellation of your email prize lottery winning. You are advised to send these requested verification information with a colour copy of your valid identification document(International passport or Driver's license) via fax or email attachment.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Note: Claiming of your funds must be completed before 15 days of your notification of your winning.

For enquiries contact:

Contact Officer: Mr. Michael Ressner.
Customer Care Department,
Telephone Number: +31 619 705 250 .
Fax Number: +31 847 438 364.
Email: Customercare@girostakes.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam