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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:
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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 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.
  • jsmithssss@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: "BRITISH CLAIMS DEPARTMENT" <british_claimsdepartment_9@msn.com>
Date: Thu, 20 Oct 2005 09:28:33 +0000
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR 2005 BRITISH LOTTERY WINNING NOTIFICATION

     

 British Lottery Headquarters:
Customer Service
28 TANFIELD ROAD,
CROYDON.LONDON

Ref: BTL/491OXI/04
Batch: 12/25/0304

 WINNING NOTIFICATION

 We happily announce to you the draw of the British
Lottery International programs held on the 1st of
June 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 have therefore been approved to claim a total
 sum of US$2,500,000.00 (Two million, five hundred thousand,
United States Dollars) in cash credited to file
RPC/9080118308/04 made available from a total cash prize
of US $125 Million dollars, shared amongst the first Fifty
(50) lucky winners in this category.

All participants were selected randomly from world
wide web sites through a computer drawn system and
extracted from over 100,000 companies. This promotion
takes place annually.

Please note that your lucky winning number falls
within our 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 as soon as you
establish contact.

  Please be warned. To file for your claim, contact our
fiduciary agent with the below details;

AGENT: Mr James Smith

   Email: jsmithssss@yahoo.co.uk

   To avoid unnecessary delays and complications, quote your
    reference/batch numbers in any correspondences with us or
our designated agent. Congratulations once more.

Faithfully,

Mr Micheal Ronin.

Zone Co-ordinator.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam