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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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.
  • +448701340016 (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.
  • slifeinternational@btinternet.com

Fraud email example:

From: "British American Lottery" <balottery_world@msn.com>
Reply-To: balottery@portugalmail.pt
Date: Thu, 13 Oct 2005 22:26:21 +0000
Subject: Re: E-Lottery Winning- Claim Your Prize.

BRITISH AMERICAN LOTTERY HEADQUARTERS:
CUSTOMER SERVICE.
*******************************************
REGENTS PARK, LONDON NW1 4NS, UNITED KINGDOM.
*******************************************
Your Ref: BAL/198243108/05/DON
Batch: 15/00/4774

Dear Winner

We happily announce to you the draw of the British American E-Lottery
programs held on the 27th of September, 2005 in London. Your e-mail address
attached to an E-ticket number: 56475600545188 with Serial
number19445/02drew the lucky numbers: 23-6-89-16-00-1, which subsequently
won you the lottery in the 2nd category. You have therefore been approved to
claim a total sum of US$2,500,000.00 (Two Million, and Five Hundred
Thousand, United States
Dollars) now credited to file BAL/19823108/05/DON.

This is from a total cash prize of US$80,000.000.00 (Eighty Million United
State Dollars) shared amongst the first fifty five (55) lucky winners in
this category "B" This year’s E-Lottery Program Jackpot is the largest ever
for British Gaming Board. The estimated $80 Million jackpot would be the
sixth-biggest in U.K history. The biggest was the $373 Million jackpot that
went to two winners in January, 2004 draw of The Big Game Mega Millions'
predecessor.

All participants were selected randomly from 'World Wide Web' through an
electronic draw system and extracted from over 100,000 companies, and
250,000 individuals. This promotion takes 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. This is a part of
our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of
this program. Please be warned.

Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our European booklet
representative office in Ireland as indicated in our play coupon. In view of
this, release of your US$2,500,000.00 (Two Million, Five Hundred Thousand,
United States Dollars) would be processed by our
affiliate Bank. Our agent will immediately commence the process to
facilitate the release of your funds to you as soon as you initiate contact
with him.

To file for your claim please contact our claims agent with the contact
details below to process your claims and ensure to include your winning and
reference numbers when filing your claim.

**************************************************
Name: Dr. Harold Sajid.
Tel/Fax: +44 8701 34 0016.
Email: slifeinternational@btinternet.com
Middle East and Asian Payment and Release Agent for:
The British Gaming Board.
**************************************************

Note that all claims process and clearance procedures must be duly completed
early to avoid impersonation or double claim. Also to avoid unnecessary
delays and complications, please quote your reference/batch numbers in any
correspondences with us or our designated agent.

Congratulations once more from all members and staff of this program.

Yours Faithfully,

Mr. Thomas Wales.
The British Gaming Board Coordinator (E-Lottery Programs).


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam