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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "hundred thousand united states 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)
• 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.
  • +31618814751 (Netherlands, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • incorpurationbv@aim.com

Fraud email example:

From: royalducth@rroyalducth.orangehome.co.uk
Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2007 18:53:57 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: FROM:ROYAL DUTCH.


FROM:ROYAL DUTCH.
ROYAL DUTCH & ZDNET INERNATIONAL BV HOLLAND.

We wish to congratulate you over your email success in our computer balloting
held on 26th august 2007. This is a Millennium Scientific Computer Game in which
email addresses were used. It is a promotional program aimed at encouraging Internet users;
therefore you have been approve for the star prize of US$ 900.000.00
(Nine Hundred Thousand United States Dollars). To claim your winning prize
you are to contact the appointed claim agent as soon as possible for the immediate
release of your winnings payment with the following information’s below:
**********************************************************************************
Please note: Payment numbers below are confidential for you personally.
**********************************************************************************
Ref No.HD/037/11/06/NL
Batch No: HD/O/7416/NL
Lucky No: HD/09/83-39/54-NL
Serial No: HD/82536/NL
**********************************************************************************
Your claim agent information:
Mr. Bob Van Owen
E-mail: incorpurationbv@aim.com
TEL+31-618-814-751
FAX+31-847-214-732,
**********************************************************************************
The Validity period of the winnings is for 30 working days hence you are Expected to make
your claims immediately, any claim not made before this date will be returned to the
MINISTERIO DE E CONOMIA Y HACIENDA. Note: You are advised to keep this winning very
confidential until you receive your lump prize fund payment. This is a protective measure put in place.

Please note: this program sponsor by Royal Dutch & Zdnet BV HOLLAND.
Congratulations!!!
Best Regards,
Mrs. Sodic Lasy
Vice president ZDNET Program Coordinator.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam