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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• 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.

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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:
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "amsterdam holland" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • files_dept5@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: "NATIONAL LOTTERY" <uklotto_info_unit4@msn.com>
Date: Fri, 06 Jan 2006 01:31:39 +0000
Subject: UK NATIONAL LOTTERY ONLINE PROMOTION 2006

The UK National Lottery

UK-LOTTO Headquarters:
Customer Service
Tel: 447023080484

Ref: UK/9420X2/68
Batch:074/05/ZY3
                                                                                                                                 5/1/06                

                                  WINNING NOTIFICATION:
Dear Winner,
We happily announce to you the draw of the UK-National Lotto Sweepstake Lottery International programs held on the 1st of January, 2005 in AMSTERDAM HOLLANDY. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: 564 75600545188,with Serial number 5368/02 drew the lucky numbers:  06-07-10-20-37-44-36 , which subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category. You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of ú550, 000.00 (Five Hundred and Fifty Thousand Pounds) in cash credited to file ktu/9023118308/03.This is from a total cash prize of ú4,400,000 (Four Million Four Hundred Thousand Pounds),shared amongst the first ten (10)lucky winners in this category. All participants were selected randomly from WorldWide Web site  through computer draw system from over 100,000 companies/individuals. This promotion takes place annually.
Please note that your lucky winning number fall within our European booklet representative office in Europe as indicated in your play coupon. In view of this, your ú550,000.00 (Five Hundred and Fifty Thousand Pounds) which is equivalent to $1,003, 356.65 in exchange 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.Your prize awards has been insured in your names and ready for claim. To begin your claims therefore, you are advised on final notice and as a matter of urgency,to contact our licensed and accredited claim agent for Overseas Lottery Winners for the processing of your prize awards winning and payment to your designated bank account after all statutory obligations have been concluded satisfactorily.Contact thus:
CONTACT OUR FIDUCIARY AGENT,
MR.MALCOLM KAM
Email: files_dept5@yahoo.co.uk

Due to mixed up in some numbers and names and for the purpose of confidentiality,be advised to keep your data above or this award notification in general secret from public notice until your claim has been processed and your prize money remitted to your designated bank account as this is part of precautionary measures to avoid double claim or misuse of this program by some social miscreants.Hence, your prize awards winning is confidential as our winners are at liberty to remain completely anonymous until payment is effected.
Congratulations once more from all members and staffs of this program. Thank you for being part of our promotional lottery  program.
Sincerely,
JANNET MUEHLENBERG
UK. LOTTERY CO-ORDINATOR
N.B:Please do not reply to this email box. Contact your agent immediately.And if you have received this communication in error,notify us immediately

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam