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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:
  • "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
• 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!

Fraud email example:

From: ONLINEMEGAMILLION/NETBUSINESS <onlinemegamillion@netbusiness.com>
Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2008 20:35:08 GMT
Subject: Prize Claim Notification


11 Febbraio ,2007

Dottoresa. Priscilla Scallone
MegaMillion Lottery Promotions Director
Online Department
Piazza Della Francesca
15-19, 50102. Firenze, Italy.

***************************************************************************************************************
Ref No: MGM/NBZ/008/01/IT
Batch No: MGMNBZ/2042/001/ITL/08
Lucky No: 04-12-75-25-32-89
Serial No: 005127
PROMOTION DATE: 26th Jan. 2008.
****************************************************************************************************************
Megamillion Online Lottery Promtions in conjuction with Netbusiness Promotions wish to congratulate you over your email
address success in our computer balloting sweepstake held on 9th FEB, 2008.
This is a millennium scientific computer game in which email addresses were used. It is a promotional program aimed
at encouraging internet users; therefore you do not need to buy ticket to enter for it.
Your email address attached to the winning references indicated above won the draw in the Second category.You have been
approve for the star prize of EUR 715,810.00. (Seven Hundred And Fifteen Thousand, Eight Hundred And Ten Euros.)
You are advised to keep this winning very confidential until you receive your prize money . This is a protective measure to
avoid double claiming by people you may tell as we have had cases like this before, Contact your winning claims instructor
below quoting the above winning references for further instructions on modalities for claim.
Name : Maria Enzo
E-mail: mariaenzo@netbusines.com
Alternate E-mail : mariaenzo@instructor.net
Rememer, all winning must be claimed not later than 5th April 2008.
Once again congratulations.
Best regard,
Dottoresa. Priscilla Scallone
onlinemegamillion@netbusiness.com
NEVER SEND SPAM. IT IS BAD.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam