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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
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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:
  • "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • ",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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "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 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.
  • europa_credites@yahoo.es (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Newcastle Proms <newcastle_2@easymail.hu>
Date: Mon, 22 Oct 2007 16:39:47 +0200
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS,YOUR EMAIL ID HAS WON YOU A PRIZE IN THE ON GOING NEWCASTLE UNITED FC LOTTERY PROMO

Mega Jackpot Lottery Promo,
Newcastle United Football Club,
St. James Park,Newcastle,
NE1 4ST,United Kingdom.

 

MOTTO: FIGHTING POVERTY AROUND THE WORLD
Reference Number: LR/19-CH/4310
Batch Number: LR/05/0018

Dear Winner,

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the just concluded annual final draws of the NEWCASTLE FC LOTTERY PROMO.The Newcastle FC Lottery draws was conducted from an exclusive list of 25,000,000 e-mail addresses of individual and corporate bodies picked by an advanced automated random computer ballot search from the internet as part of our international promotions program which we conduct every year.No tickets were sold.
After this automated computer ballot, your e-mail address attached to serial number 25-6565 drew the lucky numbers 6-13-18-24-33-39 which consequently emerged you as one of first fifty (50) lucky winners in this category.
You have therefore been approved for lump sum payout of 500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousands GB pounds) in cheque credited to file LR/19-CH/4310.This is from a total cash prize of GBP 25,000,000(Twenty Five Million Pound)shared amongst the first fifty (50)lucky winners in this category.This year Lottery Program Jackpot is the largest ever for The Newcastle Lottery.The smallest was the GBP36 million jackpot that went to two winners in Febuary 2000.The total funds are from NEWCASTLE
FOOTBALL CLUB UNITED KINGDOM which their aims are to alleviate poverty
around the world.
Your Cheque is now with the releasing agent of the lottery club with a hardcover insurance.Due to the mix up of some numbers and names, we advice that you keep this award from public notice until your claim has been processed and your money remitted to you as this is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming or unwarranted taking advantage of this program by the general public.
Please note that your lucky winning numbers falls within our European booklet representative office in Europe.In view of this,your 500,000 (Five Hundred Thousands GB Pounds)would be released to you by our affiliate agent in Europe.
Our agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your cheque to you as soon as you make contact with him.To begin your claim,please contact your claims agent by sending him this required informations of yours below via his email contact by explaning to him that you are one of the lucky winner of 2007/2008 Newcastle FC Lottery.
 
CONTACT PERSON Mr. -JOAQUIN LOPEZ
Foreign Services Manager,
Releasing and Payment Dept.
European Representative Office.
PHONE NUMBERS- 0034 656 358 386
FAX NUMBER-0034 940 462 786
Email: europa_credites@yahoo.es

Your claims agent will assist you in the process of receiving your winning cheque of your prize funds.All prize funds must be claimed not later than three weeks. After this period,all funds will be returned to the LOTTERY TREASURY ACCOUNT as unclaimed prizes.In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications,please endeavor to quote your Reference (LR/19-CH/4310) and Batch numbers (LR/05/0018) in every correspondence with your agent.Furthermore,should there be any change in your address,do inform your claims agent as soon as possible.
Congratulations once again from all members of our staffs and thanks
for being part of our program.

Yours faithfully,
Mrs Veronica Smith,
Promotions Manager,
Newcastle Lottery.

CONGRATULATIONS,YOUR EMAIL ID HAS WON YOU A PRIZE IN THE ON GOING NEWCASTLE UNITED FC LOTTERY PROMO

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam