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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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "claims agent" (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!
• 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.
  • agentdavis_winningnotification@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: "NATIONAL LOTTERY" <info_uk@msn.com>
Date: Sat, 01 Oct 2005 18:28:01 +0000
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION

GRAND UNIVERSAL PROMO
10 NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE,
LONDON WC2N 5BX, THE UNITED KINGDOM,
FROM: THE DESK OF THE DIRECTOR PROMOTIONS,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT.
REF: GUPL/67-AO91652004
WINNING NOTIFICATION
We are pleased to inform you of the announcement today,1st of October
2005,of winners of the GRAND UNIVERSAL PROMO held on 30th of August 2005.
Your email address was attached to ticket number 13-2316-5086-477; with
serial number A025-09 drew the lucky numbers 37-13-34-85-56-87, and
consequently won in category A. You have therefore been approved
for a lump sum pay out of US$1,000,000.00 in cash credited to
file REF NO. GUPL/67-AO91652004.
This is from total prize money of US$3,000.000.00 shared among the three
international winners in the category A.
All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn
from 100,000 companies/individuals from Middle East, Australia, New
Zealand,America,Asia,Europe and North America as part of our International
Promotions Program,which is conducted annually. CONGRATULATIONS!
Your fund is now deposited with a Security company insured in your name.
Due to the mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep this award
strictly from public notice until your claim has been processed and your
money remitted to your account. This is part of our security protocol to
avoid double claiming or unscrupulous acts by participants of this program.
We hope with a part of you prize, you will participate in our end of year
high stakes US$10Million international lotto.
To begin your claim, please respond back to your claims agent;
Sean Davis.
agentdavis_winningnotification@yahoo.co.uk
He will brief you on steps to be taken for due processing and remittance
of your prize money. Remember, you must contact him using his mailing address
not later than two weeks after this date or funds will be returned as
unclaimed.
NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember
to quote your reference number in every one of your correspondences.
Ticket number 13-2316-5086-477
Serial number A025-09
Lucky numbers 37-13-34-85-56-87
File REF NO. GUPL/67-AO91652004
Congratulations again from all our staff and thank you for being part of
our promotions program.
Sincerely,
Mr.Brian Lloyds,
THE DIRECTOR PROMOTIONS,
GRAND UNIVERSAL PROMO.
N.B. Any breach of confidentiality on the part of the
Winners will result to disqualification.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam