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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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• 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:

• 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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "claims office" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • ",500,000" (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)
• 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.
  • +31627516532 (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.
  • postcodeclaimsoffice@yahoo.de (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Postcode Loterij.Nl" <postcodeclaimsofficeaba@yahoo.de>
Date: Fri, 18 Jan 2008 03:03:20 -0300
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!!!(YOU HAVE WON)

Dear Sir/Madam,

Congratulations to you as we bring to your notice, the results of the Category Draws of Nationale postcode Lotterij Int held on the 15th of January 2008. We are happy to inform you that you have emerged as a winner under the First Category, which is part of our promotional draws. The results of the draws have been officially announced.
Participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 2,500,000 emails addresses of individuals and companies from Africa, America, Asia, Australia, Europe, Middle East, and Oceania as part of our International Promotions Program.

Your e-mail address, attached to reference number, with serial number and lucky number consequently won in the First Category. You have therefore been awarded a lump sum pay out of $1,110,000 (One Million One Hundred and Ten Thousand United States Dollars), which is the winning payout for Category A winners.

NOTE: Your Fund is now deposited with the paying Bank. To begin your claims, kindly contact our claims officer and legal adviser with the details below.
**************************************************
POSTCODE TRUST & SECURITIES,
Tel: +31-627-516-532
Tel: +31-204-601-497
Fax: +31-847-520-454
Email:postcodeclaimsoffice@yahoo.de
Contact Person: Mr. Michael Thomas

**************************************************
Find below your promotion date, Reference and Batch numbers. Remember To quote these numbers in your correspondence with your claims agent Mr. Michael Thomas,
**************************************************
(1) Ref No: ESM/WIN/008/05/10/MA
(2) Batch No: PCL/2907/444/908/08
(3) Lucky No: 3-18-40-40-76
(4) Serial No: 454078955
(5) PROMOTION DATE: 15th Jenuary 2008.
You should include, (a) Name, (b) Age. (c)Sex. (d)Phone number. (e)Fax. (f)Address. (g) Occupation.
********************************************************************************************
Yours Faithfully
Best Regards,
Mrs. Ruth Peterson
(Lottery co-ordinator).

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam