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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:
  • ",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 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.
  • +31620048924 (Netherlands, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Torill Mitch <staatsprogramnl29@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 21 Jul 2007 19:20:06 +0000
Subject: YOUR PAYMENT REFERENCE NUMBER: STLI/88-5/0007


Staats Loterij International Oostern Centrum 48.2289 DG RijswijkekThe-Netherlandshttp://staatsloterij.nlREFERENCE NUMBER: STLI/88-5/0007BATCH NUMBER: PR/22I12/997JH Attn:Sir/Madam,In furtherance to the publication of the official results of the STAATS LOTERIJ INTERNATIONAL SWEEPSTAKES PROGRAMS held 10th July 2007, the Management of Staatsloterij International wishes to inform you that your E-mail address as attached to ticket number: 011-9085555-326 with Serial Number: 223155-06 has won you an award in the 9th category. You have, therefore been approved for a lump sum pay of €754,000:00 (Seven Hundred And Fifty Four Thousand Euro Only) in cash credited to file Ref Number:STLI/88-5/0007. This is from a total cash prize of €7,540,000.00 sheared amongst 10 winners in this category. 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 participants. All participants were selected through a computer ballot system(Electronics Games System) drawn from over 400,000 companies and 300,000,000 individual email addresses and names from all over the world. This year's Lottery Program Jackpot is the 5th largest ever in the history of Europe Sweepstakes. This program was conducted as a new promotional means of introducing our sweepstake services, to encourage the use of the internet and to promote computer literacy worldwide, while at the same time as a means of providing each beneficiary with capital funds for positive investment purposes. CONGRATULATIONS.From Staats loterij International, do contact the approved Financial Firm with your payment Reference number on the information below for the release of your funds.Miller Green (Dr.),Foreign Operations ManagerGILMAC SECURITIES/FINANCE BV.Telephone: +31-620-048924Fax Number: +31-847-300969E-mail: gilmacsecfinance@aim.comE-mail: directsecfinance@gmail.comEnsure you follow up your claims process with telephone calls to avoid doubt. Congratulations once again as we expect you to make good use of the funds.Sincerely Yours,Torill Mitch (Mrs.).Head, Promo Team
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam