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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:

• 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:
  • "claims 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)
  • ",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)
  • "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.
  • rust2@yahoo.gr
  • gglasstrust@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Omonoia Laos <omonoial@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 29 Jun 2008 01:40:43 -0700 (PDT)
Subject:


I have receive this mail what i have to do?=0ATAGGED=A0EMAIL LOTTERY=0AWORL=
D INTERNET LOTTO CENTRE=0AEASTERN AVE 6528=0AINTERNATIONAL PROMOTION / PRIZ=
E AWARD DEPT.=0APROMOTING=A0SITE USAGE OVER THE=A0 GLOBE=0A( WE ENCOURAGE=
=A0 GLOBALIZATION)=0A=0A=0ADear Lucky Winner,=0ACONSOLATION PRIZE WINNING N=
OTICE!!!=0ACongratulations to you as we bring to your notice, the=A0 result=
s of the First Category draws of=A0 E-MAIL LOTTERY organised by=A0TAGGED Em=
powered by GOOGLE INTERNATIONAL. We are happy to inform you that you have e=
merged a winner under the First Category, which is part of our promotional =
draws. The draws were held on=A021st of June 2008 and results are being off=
icially announced=A0on=A025th of June 2008. Participants were selected thro=
ugh a computer ballot system drawn from 2,500,000 email addresses of indivi=
duals and companies from Africa, America, Asia, Australia, Europe, Middle E=
ast, and Oceania as part of our International Promotions Program. Your e-ma=
il address, attached to ticket number 675432890044/376, with serial number =
200-373 drew the lucky numbers 1-0-11-44-3-222 and consequently won in the =
First Category. You have therefore been awarded a lump sum pay out of One M=
illio(1,000,000.00) Euro, which is the winning payout for Category A=A0 win=
ners. This
is from the total prize money from 1,500,000 Euro shared among the 2 winne=
rs in this category.=0AYour fund is now deposited with the paying Bank.=A0W=
e request that you keep the entire details of your award strictly from publ=
ic notice until the process of transferring your claims has been completed,=
and your funds remitted to your account.This is part of our security proto=
col.=0ATo file for your claim, kindly contact your CLAIMS Agent.=0A=0A<<<<<=
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<=0ABarr. Terry Anderson.=
=0AGlass Trust=A0Claims Agency=0ATEL: 0030-699-643-5529.=0AEmail=A0:gglasst=
rust2@yahoo.gr=A0=0A=A0=A0=A0 Or=A0=A0 gglasstrust@aim.com=A0=0A=A0OLYMPIA =
45, 11688=0AATHENS GREECE=A0=0A<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<=
<<<<<<<<<<<<BR>You are advised to contact the agents by email.=0ANOTE: For =
easy reference and identification, find below your reference and Batch numb=
ers. Remember to quote these numbers in every one of your correspondence wi=
th your claims agent. Reference Nr: AMC/2331-ILHWGI0431/08. Batch Nr: EOST/=
25/0496/TVUFS=A0 Congratulations once again from all our staff.=0A=0A=0A=0A=

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam