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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "from: the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "million dollars" (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)
  • "hundred thousand united state dollars" (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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
• 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.
  • mrs.galvin@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: FORTUNE <mrkluvet3@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: mrs.galvin@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Sat, 25 Aug 2007 14:13:34 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION/ FINAL NOTICE


FORTUNE EXPRESS NETHERLANDS
SWEEPSTAKE LOTTERY
NL-2280 CE Rijswijk,
AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND

2007 EMAIL BALLOTING
FORTUNE EXPRESS NETHERLANDS
FROM: THE DESK OF THE PROMOTION MANAGER
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRICE AWARD DEPARTMENT.

REF NO: NEDH/2518X1/07
BATCH NO: 16/26/0304

WINNING NOTIFICATION/ FINAL NOTICE
FORTUNE EXPRESS HOLLAND NETHERLANDS Lottery wishes to inform you that the results of the e-mail address ballot lottery international program by the NETHERLANDS held on 24th August 2007 your email address was attached to ticket number 98883566104-505, with serial number 5380/07, drew with lucky numbers 54-10-25-37-30-02, and consequently won the lottery in the (A) category. All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from Microsoft users from company and individual email addresses ! all over the world. You have therefore been approved a total sum of ONE MILLION TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATE DOLLARS ($1.2 MILLION DOLLARS).

For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claim is processed and your money remitted to you in whatever manner you deem fit to claim your prize.This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program
==========================================================
THE CLAIMS AGENT!!
Prize Remittance Dept,
MRS. ELVINA GALVIN
Claims Manager
EMAIL: mrs.galvin@yahoo.com.hk
========================================================
Our agent will immediately commence the claim process to facilitate the release of your fund as soon as you contact her and you are to quote your lucky number for confirmation on your winning in every correspondence with claims agent. All winning must be claimed not later than 15th September 2007. After this date all unclaimed funds will be returned to European Union Treasury as unclaimed. Furthermore, should there be any Change of your address; do inform your claims agent as soon as possible. Congratulations!! Again from all our staffs, we say thank you for being part of our promotional lottery program.

For the avoidance of doubt, your email address was gotten from one of our network websites that you visited and it emerged as one of lucky winners. To proceed on your claim validation, we will need your particulars to verify your winning. This will be required to draw up the winning papers in your name. Please attach a recent passport photograph if available (For identification purpose at the payment point)

1. FULL NAMES:
_________________________________________________
2. DATE OF BIRTH:
_________________________________________________
3. SEX:
_________________________________________________
4. MARITAL STATUS:
_________________________________________________
5.CONTACT ADDRESS:
_________________________________________________
6.TELEPHONE NUMBER:
_________________________________________________
7.OCCUPATION:
_________________________________________________
8.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF
COMPANY/INDIVIDUAL:
_________________________________________________

Upon receipt of the duly requested data which is to be sent via email, you will receive the contact information of the payment office to effect the release of your claim in anyway you deem fit.

Sincerely Yours

REV. KLUVET
The Promotions Manager
Fortune Express Netherlands


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam