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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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• 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:
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "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 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.
  • agentvanfreek010@yahoo.de

Fraud email example:

From: "NETHERLAND LOTTERY BOARD" <2WEBMEDIA@flash.net>
Date: Sat, 01 Dec 2007 02:33:00 -0800
Subject: END OF YEAR LOTTERY

REFERENCE NUMBER: 6376527711
BATCH NUMBER: 151085135
TICKET NUMBER: 653164251591-6011
OUR REF: 67385/04

This E-mail is to inform you that you emerged a
winner of 1,200,000.00
Euros on our online draws which was played on the
29th of September
2007.
ForFurther Information about your Winnings,contact
our Lottery
Fiduciary Agent Name: Mr.Van Freek.
E-mailAddress: agentvanfreek010@yahoo.de


VERIFICATION
FULL NAME:............
RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS:......
OCCUPATION:........
DATE OF BIRTH:......
COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE:.....
TEL NO:.....
FAX:.........
EMAIL:........
TICKET NUMBER:....
BATCH NUMBER:....
AMOUNT WON:.....
OUR EMAIL ADDRESS:.....

Yours Sincerely,
Mrs Erica Helen.
agentvanfreek010@yahoo.de

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam