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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.
  • +447031904051 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "BRITISH LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL" <admin4_alfred@msn.com>
Date: Wed, 19 Oct 2005 23:19:27 +0000
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION

BRITISH LOTTERY HEADQUARTERS:
CUSTOMER SERVICE,
*******************************************
28 TANFIELD ROAD,CROYDON. LONDON
*******************************************
Ref: KPC/9080118308/02/TCA
Batch: 12/25/0034

ATTN: WINNING NOTIFICATION

We happily announce to you the draw of the British Lottery
International programs held on the 1st of October, 2005
in London. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number:
564 75600545 188 withSerial number 5388/02 drew the lucky
numbers:31-6-26-13-35-7, which subsequently won you the lottery in the
2nd category. You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of
US$1,500,000.00 (Onemillion, Five hundred thousand, United States
Dollars) in cash credited to file KPC/9080118308/02/TCA. This is from a total
cash prize of US $75,000,000.00 (Seventy Five Million United State
Dollars shared amongst the first fifty (50) lucky winners in thisgrandcategory "B".
This year Lottery Program Jackpot is the largest ever forBritish
Lottery. The estimated $75 Million jackpot would be the sixth-biggestin
U.K. history. The biggest was the $363 Million jackpot that went to two
winners in January 2004 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 ourplay coupon. In view of this, your US$1,500,000.00
(OneMillion, FiveHundred Thousand, United States Dollars) would be
transferred to your designated Bank account. Our approved agent will
immediately commence on the processing of your claims, to facilitatethe
release of your funds to you as soon as you make contact with them.
All participants were selected randomly from 'World Wide
Web' site through computer draw system and extracted fromover100,000 companies.
This promotion takes place annually. For security reasons,
you are advised to keep your winning information
confidential till yourclaims is processed and your money remitted to
you as required inthis grand category "B". This is a part of our
precautionary measure to avoiddouble claiming and unwarranted abuse of this
program by some unscrupulous elements.
Please be warned. To file for your claim, kindly contact
our fiduciary agent with the below details for processingof your claims.

******************************************************************
Name: Mr. Alfred Atkins.
E-mail: admin1_alfred@walla.com
Tel: +447031904051
Foreign Services Manager, Payment and Release order
Department, TRANS-ATLANTIC S.A LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM

******************************************************************

Note that all claims process and clearance procedures must
be duly completed early to avoid impersonation arising to
the issue of double claiming.
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 staffs ofthis program.
Yours faithfully,
Mrs. Mariam Jackson.
Online Lottery Co-ordinator
 

 

 

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam