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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
• 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!

Fraud email example:

From: "British Lottery" <blottery1@msn.com>
Reply-To: susan_britishlottery@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Thu, 05 Jan 2006 08:44:08 +0000
Subject: ACCEPT MY CONGRATULATIONS.

BRITISH INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY
12 BRIDGE STREET,
STAINES MIDDLESEX TW18 4TP UK
UNITED KINGDOM

Dear Sir/Madam
This is to inform you that you have been selected for a cash prize of
900.000.00 (NINE HUNDRED THOUSAND GREAT BRITISH POUNDS) International
lottery programs held on Tuesday January 3rd 2006 in London(United
kingdom).
The selection process was carried out through random selection in our
computerized email selection system(ESS) from a database of over 250,000
email addresses of Individuals and company's drawn from all the continents
of the world.
This Lottery is approved by the British Gaming Board and also Licensed by
the The International Association of Gaming Regulators(IAGR). This
promotional lottery is the tenth of its kind.
Respond quickly to this email to commence the processing of your prize
claim.
Accept my hearty congratulations once again!
Regards
Mrs Susan A. Hart
Director Gen. of promotions

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam