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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:
  • "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.
  • dangura@mrlottery.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: TERESA WOLLER <teresawoller@aol.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2008 07:09:05 +0100
Subject: YOUR EMAIL HAS BEEN LISTED


E-LOTTO PROMOTION
NEW YEAR PROMO
21TH January 2008

Dear Winner,

This is to inform you that your email ID has won you the sum of 500,000.00=80 =
(five hundred thousand eurosonly) in the new year E-LOTTO PROMOTION conducted =
with the computer balloting system and your email won with the winning =
numbers stated below;

Coupon Number: 98403759/NL
Online Number: GK758944
Ticket Number: 05/4855/33
PIN: 4020

This is a millennium scientific computer game in which email addresses were =
used and it is a promotional program aimed at encouraging internet users; =
therefore you do not need to buy ticket to enter for the game. The lottery is =
sponsored by a regional organization belonging to the World Lottery =
Association (WLA) which represents 147 lotteries from 81countries, with =
combined annual revenues in excess of US$102 billion.

In your best interest, we request that you keep the entire details of your =
award strictly from public notice until the process of transferring your =
claims has been completed. This is in accordance with section 13(1) (n) of =
the national gambling act as adopted in 1993 and amended on 3rd July 1996 by =
the constitutional assembly. This is to protect winners and to avoid =
misappropriation of funds.

PAYMENT OF PRIZE AND CLAIM
Winners shall be paid in accordance with his/her Settlement Centre. Your =
Prize Award must be claimed no later than 15 days from date of Draw =
Notification. Any prize not claimed within this period will be forfeited. In =
pursuant to your prize collection, kindly contact the processing officer in =
charge of your region by completing the form Below, then send via fax or =
email to the processing officer with information below for due verifications, =
processing and notarizing of your file to enable us make payment of your =
prize money to you.

E-Lotto Program Claims Department
Tel/: +(31)634686782 Fax: +(31)847465044
Contact Person: Dan Gura
E-Mail: dangura@mrlottery.com

(1)NAME OF BENEFICIARY:_______________________________________________

(2)ADDRESS:___________________________________________________________

(3)TELEPHONE:_________________________________________________________

(4)FAX:________________________________________________________________

(5)OCCUPATION:_______________________________________________________

(6)NATIONALITY:_______________________________________________________

(7)CITY:_______________________________________________________________

(8)COUNTRY:___________________________________________________________

(9)COUPON NUMBERS:____________________________________________________

(10)TICKET NUMBERS:____________________________________________________

(11)WINNER'S EMAIL ADDRESS:____________________________________________

I WANT TO BE PAID BY: a/BANK TRANSFER. b/PERSONAL COLLECTION. c/ CHEQUE

Send your details by fax if you find it difficult sending an email.

Congratulations from all our staff.

Sincerely Yours,

Teresa Woller.
International Co-ordinator
Copyright (c) 2008 Euro Millions Inc.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam