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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!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• 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:
  • "claims office" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
• 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: Free Lottery Sweepstakes Promotions 2008 <email1@iol.cz>
Reply-To: claimsdpt009@live.com
Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2008 03:17:41 GMT
Subject: 2008/Winner Ref Number: MELI-T/ 17-F044262312 !




The Free Lotto Sweepstakes,
PO Box 42 Peterborough
PE3 8XH UNITED KINGDOM

Dear Winner,

Your ticket number: 023-0148-790-459 with Serial number 5368/05 drew the
lucky number: 29 We are pleased to notify you that your email address
emerged as a winner in our promotional lotto sweepstakes and as a result
you have been granted the lump sum payout of (500.000.00G.B.P) which is
equivalent to ($917,956.00 USD).
Contact your claims officer below for your claims/winnings.
_______________________________________________________
Mr. Eva Pedro: (claimsdpt009@live.com)
you are to forward the following details to enable us clear your file
for immediate payment: Congratulations Once More Winner
________________________________________________________
Ref Number: MELI-T/ 17-F044262312
Batch Number:901/00319/HLP
Zonal Draw Number: GMLA2-003
Grand Draw Number: 12099

1.Full Names:________________
2.Address:___________________
3.Age:_______________________
4.Sex:_______________________
5.Marital Status:____________
6.Occupation:________________
7.Phone Numbers:_____________
8.Fax Number:________________
9.Country:___________________

Sincerely,
Mr. Eva Pedro
Online Coordinator
Free Lottery Sweepstakes Promotions 2008.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam