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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:
  • ",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)
• 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.
  • +447045761133 (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.
  • cm-di@winning.com

Fraud email example:

From: Mrs.Helen Jones <dynastyintl@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2007 09:47:34 +0400
Subject: Congratulations, you are a winner


DYNASTY INTERNATIONAL LOTTO AWARD

Dear Winner,

This is Dynasty International, a non religious and non racist organization =
formed to unite
the human race in their religion/belief, as we believe God is one and human =
beings are one
not withstanding your religion, race, education or political background.

Dear, you have been selected as one of our lucky winners in this our =
inaugural lotto awards
which was organized in the spirit of Ramadan and the forth coming Christmas.

The draw was conducted via computer programmed selection system which saw =
your email
address win in the 1st Category with the following information;
Your ticket no: DI-8923412
Serial no: 654213
Insurance no: 57025
Winning no: DI/418906
Winning amount: us$2,000,000.00(us$2 Million)

Be informed that this 2007 lottery award and payments starts on the 15th =
September and ends on the 31st of December, 2007.

Your are therefore advised as a matter of importance as it concerns time =
factor, to contact
immediately the director of payments informing him of your winning with the =
winning details
above;

Name: Clifford Mcphee
Telephone: +447045761133 Email: cm-di@winning.com

We wish to congratulate you over your winning as we pray that your will =
contribute in making
the world a peaceful place for human race.

Yours truly,

Helen Jones
(Public Relation's Officer)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam