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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "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!

Fraud email example:

From: "Bill Harris" <onlinelottery_uk2@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: alwaysointernationallotto@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Thu, 05 Jan 2006 16:19:25 +0000
Subject: bill harris & Associates

FINAL WINNING NOTIFICATION:

                               WINNING NOTIFICATION

ATTENTION: Dear Sir/Madam,

 

I am Mr.Bill Harris the fiduciary agent assigned to your case. I wish to Congratulate you on your victory, you are a lucky person to have won this lottery. Your email address was amongst those chosen this quarter from our new java-based software that randomly selects email addresses from the web from which winners are selected. You are  required to forward the following details to help facilitate the processing of your claims and certificate which will facilitate the release of your winnings.

 

The lottery is an annual event orgainised by LUCKYDAY LOTTO (www.luckyday.nl) and we are the united kingdom regional promoters.

 

Your winning price is to the tune of Two Million Euros.

1. Full names.
2. Phone number.
3. Fax number.
4. Occupation.
5. Sex.
6. Age.
7. Nationality.

 

You are advised to forward this information as soon as possible to enable us attend to your winnings. Our firm has been contracted to handle payments on your behalf, once we confirm your information, your payments would be processed. Everything was done in  such a way that our payments mode would meet the standards set by the Lottery boards.After you have sent down these information, a certificate will be prepared  for you. This is to be your proof of winning from this office to the payment center before they release your funds.

Be advised that your winnings would be paid to you in Four(4) installments of 500,000.00 Euros {Five Hundred Thousand Euros}. This is done because of the amount won by you. This money would be paid to you on instalmental basis via the Correspondent Bank of the Lottery promoters. You are advised to keep your winning numbers secret to avoid unscrupulous elements from taking advantage of the situation.

Once again, congratulations.
 
Yours faithfully,
MR. BILL HARRIS
bill harris & Associates
50 Broadway
Westminster
London
SW1H OBL
United Kingdom

PRACTICE AREAS:-

 

CONVEYANCING
The legal aspects of buying, selling and leasing
houses and property. We are able to provide an
indication of likely costs in relation to domestic
conveyancing.

 

CRIMINAL
General advice on all aspects of Criminal cases
including dealing with the prosecutor. Registered with
British Aid Board to provide criminal legal
assistance. Preparing for and conducting cases in all
of the Scottish Criminal courts. Preparing for and
conducting Children's Hearings.

 

CLAIMS
All work relating to compensation arising from any
accident or injury, including Criminal Injuries
Compensation and lottery winnings.

 

CIVIL COURT
All work relating to cases involving Divorce,
Children, Interdict, Housing, Employment, Recovery,
Contract and Debt.

 

EXECUTRY
Preparing wills and winding up affairs after death.

                                                           

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam