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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:
  • "fiduciary 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 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.
  • +447031843416 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "John Morrison" <johnmorrison_14@msn.com>
Date: Sun, 02 Oct 2005 04:07:35 +0000
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION

British Lottery International:

Customer Service

28 TANFIELD ROAD,

CROYDON.LONDON

Ref: BTL/491OX1/04

Batch: 12/25/0304

Date: 02/10/2005
WINNING NOTIFICATION

We happily announce to you the draw of the British Lottery International
programs held on the 20th of april 2005 in London.Your e-mail address
attached to ticket number: 564 75600545-188 with Serial number 5388/02 drew
the lucky numbers: 31-6-26-13-35-7,which subsequently won you the lottery in
the 2nd category.You are therefore, been approved to claim a total sum of
US$2,500,000.00(Two million, five hundred thousand, United StatesDollars) in
cash credited to file RPC/9080118308/04.This is from a total cash prize of
US $125 Million dollars, shared amongst the first Fifty (50) lucky winners
in this category.

This year Lottery Program Jackpot is the largest ever for British Lottery
.The estimated $125 million jackpot would be the sixth-biggest in U.K.
history.The biggest was the $363 million jackpot that went to two winners in
a May 2000 drawing of The Big Game, Mega Millions' predecessor.
Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our European booklet
representative office in Europe as indicated in our play coupon. In view of
this, your US$2,500,000.00 (Two million, five hundred thousand,United States
Dollars) would be released to you by our affiliate bank in London.Our agent
will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your
funds to you as soon as you make contact with him .

All participants were selected randomly from World Wide Web site through
computer draw system and extracted from over 100,000 companies.This
promotiontakes place annually. For security reasons, you are advised to keep
your winning information confidential till your claims is processed and your
money remitted to you in whatever manner you deem fit to claim your prize.
This is a part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and
unwarranted abuse of this program by some unscrupulous elements.Please be
warned.To file for your claim, please contact our fiduciary agent with the
below details for processing of your claims.

AGENT: Mr Smith Gerald
Email: smithgerald_24@uk2.net
To avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please quote your
reference/batchnumbers in any correspondences with us or our designated
agent.
Congratulations once more from all members and staffs of this program.
Thank you for being part of our promotional lottery program.
Sincerely,
Mr Jonathan Briggs
Zonal Coordinator
(+447031843416)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam