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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:
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • ",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 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.
  • eurrogolds@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.John Hestley " <staatsllotto@aim.com>
Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2008 07:11:01 -0700
Subject: CONFIRM YOUR WINNING !!!

FROM STAATSLOTERIJ INTERNATIONAL B.V
AWARD DEPARTMENT. MAARSHOF 10,
3064HA,AMSTERDAM THE NETHERLANDS.
REFERENCE NUMBER: 632/952/388/4016
BATCH NUMBER: 532/868/ 222 / 08

Dear Lucky Winner,

We are pleased to inform you of the announcement today,of winners of the
Staatsloterij Sweepstakes International Programs, your e-mail address
attached to ticket number:PSLI/8/ 432/655/081 with Serial number: 41/BN/X253
drawn from the lucky number: 111/289/670/333, and consequently won in the
3rd category. You have therefore been approved for a huge sum of One
Million,Euros Only ( €1,000,000.00 ). CONGRATULATION ! ! !

Your prize winning money of €1,000,000.00 has been deposited and insured
with your e-mail address in your favor alone, we therefore ask you to keep
your winning information confidential until your claims has been processed
and your money remitted to your account. This is part of our security
protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by
some participants.

All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from
over 65,000 companies and individual email addresses from Europe, America,
Asia, Australia, Caribbean, Africa and New Zeal-and as part of international
program which we conduct once every year.

To begin your claim /processing of your prize winning, you are advised to
contact the remittance agent through their information below:

EURO GOLDS FINANCES:
E-MAIL: eurrogolds@aim.com
DIRECTOR: MR. GILL MARTEN.

For the processing and remittance of your prize money to a designated bank
account of your choice.Please be aware that your paying bank will effect
payment swiftly upon satisfactory report and verifications provided by our
remittance department. Remember, if not claim for certain period it will
returned as unclaimed to the office.

Note in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, remember to
quote your reference and batch numbers in all correspondence.You are also
advised to provide him with the under listed information as soon as
possible:

1. Name in full
2. Address
3. Nationality
4. Age
5. Occupation
6. Phone/Fax numbers
7. Sex.

Furthermore, should there be any change of address do inform your claim
agent as soon as possible.

Yours Sincerely,

Mr.John Hestley
(Lottery Coordinator).
REPLY TO THIS EMAIL: eurrogolds@aim.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam