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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
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• 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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • " lotto international " (no such lottery exists)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • ",000,000" (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 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.
  • aleonardassociates@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: <info@lotto.nl>
Date: Sat, 7 Jul 2007 23:30:23 +0300
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION (TREAT WITH DISPATCH)


LOTTO INTERNATIONAL,Laan Van Hoornwijck 552289 DG RijswijkKvK 41151075Amsterdam-Netherlandswww.lotto.nl*****************************REF: LDL /2551256003/22BATCH: 14/0017/IPD***************************** WINNING NOTIFICATION! Lucky winner, We happily announce to you the draw of the Lotto International program held on the 4th of July, 2007 in Amsterdam. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number:025-1146-1992-750 with Serial number 2113-22 drew the lucky numbers: 12-6-20-29-30-4-18, which subsequently won you the lottery prize in the 1st category. You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of 1,000,000.00 Euros (One million Euros) in cash credited to file NO.LDL/2551256003/22. This is from a total cash prize of 15 Million Euros, shared amongst the first fifteen (15) lucky winners in this category.  This year's Program is the 2nd largest ever for the International Draws. The estimated L75 million jackpots would be the sixth-biggest in the European history. The biggest was the L36 million jackpot that went to two winners in a May 2000 drawing of the big game, mega millions predecessor.  Please note that your lucky winning numbers fall within our European booklet representative office in UK as indicated in our play coupon. In view of this, your 1,000,000.00 Euros (One million Euros) would be released to you by our affiliate agent payment centre in London.  Our agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your funds to you as soon as you make contact with him. All participants were selected randomly (Electronically) from the 'World Wide Web' through a computer ballot system and extracted from over 100,000 Company and Personal e-mail addresses. This promotion takes placeannually. For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claim is fully processed and your prize money released to you. This is a part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some unscrupulous elements. Please be warned.  ELIGIBILITY:This promotion is offered electronically via the Internet and is open to all internet Users from age 16 years and above with a valid email address. Principals and employees of Lotto International and its respective, subsidiaries and their immediate families are noteligible.  CLAIMS PROCEDURES:It is our standard practice to allocate accredited agents for the processing of claims application. It is even more imperative for overseas winners. To begin your claims therefore, you are advised as a matter of urgency, to contact the under listed licensed and accredited claims agent for the processing of your prize award winning. Please contact the clearing house (through your claims agent only) the body assigned with the verification of all emerged winners. Therefore all protocols laid down by them must be followed to facilitate the processing of your claims;  AGENCY HOUSE: Anthony Leonard AssociatesAGENT: Mr. Anthony LeonardEmail: aleonardassociates@yahoo.com.hk All claim process and clearance procedures must be duly completed early to avoid impersonation arising to the issue of double claim.  NB: PLEASE SEE THAT YOU QUOTE YOUR REF AND BATCH NUMBERS IN YOUR CORRESPONDENCE TO YOUR CLAIMS AGENT.  SPECIAL NOTE: All prize money must be claimed not later than two weeks after the day of notification. After this date, all funds will be returned as unclaimed. Congratulations once more from all members and staff of this program. Thank you for being part of our promotional Draw program. Yours Faithfully, Andrew Peters, International Coordinator. Lotto International Please Note: You are not to reply this mail, refer to your claims agent at: aleonardassociates@yahoo.com.hk  *******************************************************************************************************Lotto Awards is proudly sponsored by a conglomerate of Multi-National IT companies. The internet draw is held once in a year and is so organized to encourage the use of the internet and computers worldwide. We are proud to say that Millions of Euros are won annually in more than 150 countries worldwide.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam