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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
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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:

• The following fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "uk national lottery" (can only win this lottery if you bought a ticket)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "million pounds" (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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +447031965490 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• 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.
  • 5frepresentativeagent@yahoo.co.uk
  • resentativeagent@yahoo.co.uk
  • 5frepresentativ@mail2world.com

Fraud email example:

From: "CONGRATULATIONS: YOU HAVE WON!!!! " <lflf1@hotmail.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 02 May 2008 16:40:51 +0200
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS: YOU HAVE WON!!!!




BRITISH LOTTERY HEADQUARTERS,
CUSTOMERS SERVICES,=20
33 YATCH BASIN MARINA OFFICE,
UPON TYNE NEW CASTLE LONDON .
Batch: 14/211/0374: Ref: BTL/311OXI/02.=20

CONGRATULATIONS: YOU HAVE WON!!!!=20
=20
We happily announce to you the draw of the British lottery program held in=
London, Your e-mail address attached, to ticket number: 694/7560/0545/721=
with Serial number: 886/04 drew the lucky num bers: 016/213/3517, which s=
ubsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category, you are therefore, be=
en approve d to claim a total sum of 1 ,000.000.00 (One Million Pounds Onl=
y) in cash credited to file RPC/9080/1153/2244 This is from a total cash p=
rize of 125 million pounds starlings. You are advised to keep your winning=
information confidential till your claim your fund, is processed and your=
money remitted to you in whatever manner you demand fit to claim your pri=
ze.=20

This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unw=
arranted abuse of this program. Please be warned. CONTACT YOUR CLAIM AGENT=
IMMEDIATELY THROUGH EMAIL OR YOU CALL HIM.=20

Mr: PETE CARY=20
Phone Number: +44 703196 5490=20
Contact Email: patcary=5Frepresentativeagent@yahoo.co.uk [mailto:patcary=5Frep=
resentativeagent@yahoo.co.uk] / london=5Frepresentativ@mail2world.com [mailt=
o:london=5Frepresentativ@mail2world.com]=20
Endeavor to email him with your full names, winning numbers , email addres=
s, telephone and fax numbers immediately.=20

Congratulations; from me and members of staff of THE UK NATIONAL LOTTERY.=20

Yours faithfully lotto manager


=09
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam