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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:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "claims office" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "hundred thousand united state dollars" (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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
• 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.
  • zakri_azwan@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Petroliam Nasional Berhad <tommot@post12.tele.dk>
Reply-To: zakri_azwan@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2009 10:48:56 +0100
Subject: PETRONAS REDEMPTION OF PRIZES.

Petroliam Nasional Berhad(PETRONAS).
Tower 1
Petronas Twin Towers
Kuala Lumpur City Centre(KLCC)
50088 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia

PETRONAS a Leading Oil and Gas Multinational Of Choice proudly announces to you as one of her 25 lucky winners worldwide in it's Secured Online Promotion.

You are therefore entitled to a Total payout of TWO MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATE DOLLARS ($2,500,000.00USD) in cash in this category.

This Promotion was held at the Prestigious Petronas Twin Towers(Currently the Tallest Building in the world) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia through a secured automated powered ballot where over 50,000 email addresses from all over the world were being collected for the draw. The purpose for this Promotion is an avenue to appreciate all customers who have patronized us over the years both from Malaysia and worldwide as a whole, the
promotion is also geared at bringing PETRONAS close to the world for advertising its exquisite brands of products.

The following are your winning Informations to be kept confidential, your claims agent is the only authorised person you are required to disclose these informations to for processing:

TICKET NUMBER ------------------60876KS652M,
WINNING NUMBERS ------------------ 85083457
RAFFLE DRAW NUMBERS ------------------1982-02
SECURITY NUMBER ------------------------- 0202.
REFERENCE NUMBER----------------- PET/43824394763/08


You being Authorised/Mandated by this notification which takes immediate effect to get in touch with your claims officer whom your entitlement has been drafted to for onward assistance and disbursement.

==================================================================================================================
PRIZE RELEASE DEPARTMENT
Petroliam Nasional Berhad(PETRONAS)
Tower 1
Petronas Twin Towers
Kuala Lumpur City Centre
50088 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
TEL: +60122913878
EMAIL: zakri_azwan@yahoo.com.hk
MR. Azwan Sri Bin Zakri
==================================================================================================================

All the Members and Staff Of PETRONAS congratulates you for being a winner of its promotion as we hope that you would take the time to Patronize us in the near future to have a taste of our Exquisite brands of products.

Yours Truly,
Mrs.Faustina Butcher.
Online coordinator,
PETRONAS SECURED ONLINE PROMOTION,
Sweepstakes International Program.
Open 7 days 8am-11pm.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam