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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 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.
  • +447040110646 (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.
  • ivan_assist1@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "gcl lottery" <gclworld@gclworld.com>
Date: Tue, 11 Oct 2005 17:45:46 +0000
Subject: Contratulation!!!!

GOLD CASH PROMO LOTTERY
311 REGENT STREET,
NEWCASTLE, ENGLAND
INTERNATIONAL CLAIM DEPARTMENT,

TELEPHONE:+447040110646, +447031916236

REF:1037231II
BATCH: AA/44-2013-33/JJJ


Dear Sir / Madam,

AWARD
NOTIFICATION / FINAL NOTICE
We are pleased to inform you of the announcement Today, 11th of OCTOMBAR
2005,as
winners of the GOLD CASH LOTTERY PROGRAM held on 10th MAY
2005.


Your email is attached to the ticket number lottery file with TICKET
NUMBER 566-018-9-77;
drew the lucky numbers 14, 20, 05, 44, 73, 35, 36, and
consequently you have won the lottery in the 2nd
category.
You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay of 500, 000.00
Euros in cash credited to file REF NO.1037231II. This is from total prize
money of 5,000,000.00 Euros shared among the Ten International winners
in this category. All participants were sellected through a
computer Ballot system drawn from 50,000 emails from AUSTRALIA, NEW
ZEALAND, AMERICA, EUROPE, NORTH AMERICA,AFRICA and ASIA as part of
international promotions program,
which is conducted annually.



CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Your fund is now deposited with a security company insured in your
email ID...
Due to the mix up of some numbers and emails, 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
your prize you will participate in our end of our year high stakes
50Million Euros international lottery. To begin your claim, please contact
your claims agent:

MR, IVAN NICHOLAS

CLAIMS DEPARTMENT.
GOLD CASHEMAIL PROMO LOTTERY,
E-mail: ivan_assist1@yahoo.com

for due processing and remittance of your prize money to a designated
account of your choice. Remember, all claims must be made not later than
20th September 2005 .
After this date, all funds will be returned as unclaimed.

NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complication, please
remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in every one of your
correspondences with your agent. Furthermore, should there be any change
of your address, do inform your claims agent
as soon as possible.
Congratulations once again from all our staff and thank you for your
being part of our
promotions program.
We are open to scrutuny and proper investigations.

Sincerely,

MRS. LINDA FAIRWOSH
THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam