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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:

• 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)
  • "deadline" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "account opening form" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
• 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.
  • +31634239219 (Netherlands, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Van Rob" <diretkbank@dnsau.org.uk>
Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2007 11:04:01 GMT
Subject: ACCOUNT OPENING FORM ATTACHED FILL AND RETURN

Direkt Bank
Karspeldreef 6A 1101 CJ
Tel:+31 634 239 219
Fax:+31 847 119 436 
Den Haag , Netherlands.
 
Dear Winner,
 
You have been awarded a lump sum pay-out from the free (Computer Email Ballot) international Lottery Program by the Lotto.nl.
We the entire staff of Direckt Bank wish to congratulate you for being one of the lucky winners in this season's lottery Promotion.
 This is an independent promotion and is unconnected to any publication. No purchase of ticket necessary. Be informed that this lottery promotion was conducted through the Internet worldwide random selection, the participants and winners were picked randomly through a computer ballot system and you have been picked as one of the lucky winners. For payment of your winning prize of the 'A' draw 1st category winning prize of Euro 1,000,000.00 (One Million Euros) to be transfered to your nominated account by Direkt Bank.
Outlined herein are the terms and conditions for claiming your prize:
 
1. You must be over the age of 18.
 
2. The account opening forms must be properly filled out. Any wrong information provided will result to automatic disqualification.
 
3. Winners are to work with their account officer here in The Netherlands to have their forms notarized in order to obtain the Certificate of Award from the Netherlands Gaming Control Board.
 
4.As the winner, you are responsible for the minimum initial deposit( MID ).
 
5. Any leakage of your winning information resulting to a double claims, will disqualify your winnings.

6. Note also that, you are not obliged in any way to claim this prize award and you have every right to reject it, this does not affect your statutory rights.
 
7. Employees, relatives of Lotto nl and Direkt Bank are excluded from participating in this
program.

8. To be eligible for claims,you must complete the claims process before the deadline,stated in the winning notification you received.

9. Filling a claim form means acceptance of the full terms and conditions enumerated above.

If you agree to the terms and conditions,send back the account opening form by email attachment and that you agree to the terms and conditions to proceed in claiming your prize .You are to fill the account opening Form and send back by FAX or as attached file for the Account Activation.
 
Attached with this mail is the Account Activation Form  which must be completed and sent back to this office for the process of Activation of your Account with Direkt Bank. You are to send a scanned copy of your ID, passport or driver's license for proof of identity for us to proceed with the transfer of your winning prize to you.
 
The Form allows you choose the kind of account you will like to own with Direkt Bank . Remember to quote your winning numbers in every one of your correspondence with us.
 
Note: The claiming process must be completed before the claims expiration date as stipulated in the award notification email.
 
Thanks in advance for banking with us.
 
Yours Faithfully,
Evlyne Bakker(Mrs)
For: Mr. Van Rob
 

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam