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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
  • ",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.
  • +31642873032 (Netherlands, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: dutch microsoft <dutchmsoft10@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2007 17:26:03 +0200
Subject: cash prize of $1,000,000.00



cash prize of $1,000,000.00 Mrs. Kate de JongLottery co-ordinatorDutch MicrosoftAmsterdam, The NetherlandsREFERENCE #:67/80/IPDBATCH #:NL-541-623-732S.C.F #:NL-212-455-122Dear Winner, Congratulations!With utmost joy, we are pleased to inform you of the result of theDutch-Microsoft promotional draws held on the 18th July 2007 which drew a cashprize of $1,000,000.00. Your e-mail address attached to Ticket/Code number0087411652337 with claim/reference number 085093785/07 drew these lucky numbers007-49746-041-764-64-2091, which consequently won in the 1st category. You havebeen 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 previouswinners, we advise that you keep your winning information confidential untilyour claim has been processed and released to you. This security measure iscrucial; its a measure put in place to avoid double claims, transfer andunwarranted abuse of thisprogram by other participants.METHOD OF SELECTING WINNERS:participants were selected anonymously through a private ballot system (computerballot) from over 35,000 companies and 70,000 individual e-mail addresses allover the world. At the final draw your e-mail address emerged as the winner ofour last jackpot.This is promotional program takes place bi-annually as a meansof promoting our rapidly growing computer software company and also torewardsome individuals and corporations who have devoted their time andresources surfing the world wide web (www) with their email addresses.And it ispromoted and sponsoredby Microsft Inc.,Winning.com and the telecom giant O2.Hence this sweepstake also serve aspromotion for theservices offerred by all sponsors aforementioned.Remember, all winnings must be claimed not later than 7 working days fromtoday.After the expiration of that time frame, if your funds are unclaimed, itwill be refunded to us and included in our next draws.Lastly, in order to avoid unnecessary delays/complications with the transfer ofyour funds to you, please always remember to quote your Code number in allcorrespondence with our paying agent.Furthermore,should there be any change ofyour present address, please notify us immediately so we can make theappropriate adjustment.Congratulations from the management and staff of Dutch-Microsoft, Winning.com &O2-----------------------------------------------------------------------------do kindly, immediately, contact our approved Paying Agent in The Netherlands foryour 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 promotioncash prize of $1,000,000.00. Kindly advise me with details of the process of thetransfer of my cash prize within the next 7-working days.Contact details of our Paying Agent:OSDORP FINANCEE-mail: osdorpfinanceinc@cbgb.net Tel:+31 64 287 3032Fax:+31 84 714 2412Fax:+31 84 738 5726Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam