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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:
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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:
  • "million 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)
  • ",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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• 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.
  • +447045740300 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• 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.
  • sirfweber@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Sweeptakes Online Lottery" <lotteryoffice1@btconnect.com>
Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2007 17:08:25 +0100
Subject: FREELOTTO WINNING ALERT.....Congratulations

FREELOTTO WINNING ALERT.....Congratulations
AFFILIATED OFFICE OF FREELOTTO U.K
82 Victoria Street,
Victoria London SW1 U.K

NOTIFICATION OF WINNING

We are pleased to inform you of the release, of the recent results of
the FREELOTTO INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION PROGRAM held on 29th August,
2007. You were entered as dependent clients with: Reference Serial
Number: F2-003-036 and Batch number FR/45-300-06. Your email address
attached to the ticket number: 54-20-17-52-34-30 that drew the lucky
winning number, which consequently won the Daily Jackpot in the first
category,in four parts. You have been approved for a payment of
$1,000,000.00 (One Million United State Dollars) in cash credited to
file reference number: TFR/9900034943/JPT. Congratulations!!!

To read the FreeLotto click here:
http://www.freelotto.com
FreeLotto Winning Draw Results for August 14th 2007

$50,000.00: 4-5-34-41-3-37
$200,000.00: 22-43-6-9-28-26
$10,000.00: 12-32-17-14-24-10
$100,000.00 : 2-27-22-47-16-21

Daily Jackpot $1,000,000.00: 54-20-17-52-34-30
Super Bulk $10,000,000.00 : 37-2-48-41-46-25-43

Please contact the underlisted claims release office for immediate pay out of your winning fund:

Mr Frank Weber
(Freelotto Fiduciary Department )
82 Victoria Street Victoria London SW1 U.K
Email: sirfweber@yahoo.co.uk
Phone Number: +44 70457 40300

She is your agent, and she is responsible for the processing and
transfer of your winnings to you. After receiving your cheque from our
office in U.K other relevant documents you may need to claim your
winning will be delivered to you by our paying bank as soon as you
validate your claims..
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The freelotto internet drew is held every six months and is so
organized to encourage the use of the internet and computer worldwide.

We are proud to say that over 300 millions Euros are won annually in
more that 118 countries Worldwide.

Sincerely,
Mr.Kevin J. Aronin
Chairman & CEO

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam