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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 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.
  • ellisonduff@excite.com

Fraud email example:

From: "UK LOTTERY" <uklotterywinnersnotification@marcusbent.org>
Date: Fri, 21 Oct 2005 10:01:48 +0000
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION.

 

UK-LOTTO Sweepstake Lottery
2-7 WALTER CARINGTON DRIVE D.W,
LONDON, ENGLAND,
UNITED KINGDOM.
W6T 1E2.

Ref: UK/9420X2/68
Batch: 074/05/ZY369

          WINNING NOTIFICATION

 We happily announce to you the draw of the UK-LOTTO
Sweepstake Lottery International programs held on the
2nd October,2005 in LONDON,UNITED KINGDOM
Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: 564
75600545 188 with Serial number 5368/02 drew the lucky numbers:19-6-26-17-35-7, 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 ktu/9023118308/03.This is from a total cash prize of US $25 Million dollars, shared amongst the first Ten (10) luckywinners in this category.

 All participants were selected randomly from World Wide Website through computer draw system and extracted from over100,000 companies. This promotion takes place annually.

 Please note that your lucky winning number falls within ourEuropean booklet representative office in Europe as indicated in your 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 payment office in Europe.

 Our European agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your funds as soon as you contact him. 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 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:
MR ELLISON DUFF

EMAIL: ellisonduff@excite.com

File the following to Him when you want to contact Agent.

VERIFICATION FORM.

(Form HLP)
REFERENCE NUMBER: UK/9420X2/68
FULL NAME______________________
COMPANY NAME:_________________
FULL ADDRESS:__________________
SEX:____________________
AGE____________________
OCCUPATION______________
TEL_____________FAX____________ (If any)
COUNTRY_________________
E-MAIL_____________________
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF COMPANY/ INDIVIDUAL:
________________________________
________________________________
________________________________
________________ __________________________
    Date.                             Signature.

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 of this program. Thank you for being part of our promotional lottery program.

Sincerely,
MR MARCUS BENT

UK-LOTTO CO-ORDINATOR

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam