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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")
  • "million british pounds" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
• 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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +447031921128 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Jackson Maraim" <admin_mariam55@msn.com>
Date: Fri, 06 Jan 2006 12:43:01 +0000
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION

BRITISH LOTTERY HEADQUARTERS:
CUSTOMER SERVICE,
*******************************************
28 TANFIELD ROAD,CROYDON. LONDON
*******************************************
Ref: KPC/9080118308/02/TCA
Batch: 12/25/0034
 
ATTN: WINNING NOTIFICATION
 
We happily announce to you the draw of the British Lottery International programs held on the 5th of Dec , 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 GBP 2,500,000.00 (Two million, Five hundred thousand, British Pounds) in cash credited to file KPC/9080118308/02/TCA. This is from a total cash prize of GBP 75,000,000.00 (Seventy Five Million British Pounds shared amongst the first fifty (50) lucky winners in this grand category "B".
 
This year Lottery Program Jackpot is the largest ever for British Lottery. The estimated GBP 75 Million jackpot would bethe sixth-biggest in U.K. history. The biggest was the GBP 363 Million jackpot that went to two winners in January 2004 drawing of The Big Game Mega Millions' predecessor.

Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our European booklet representative office in Europe as indicated in ourplay coupon. In view of this, your GBP 2,500,000.00 (Two Million, Five Hundred Thousand, British Pounds) would be transferred to your designated Bank account. Our approved agent will immediately commence on the processing of your claims, to facilitate the release of your funds to you as soon as you make contact with them.
All participants were selected randomly from 'World Wide Web' site through computer draw system and extracted from over 100,000 companies.
 
This promotion takes place annually. For security reasons,you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claims is processed and your money remitted to you as required in this grand category "B". This is a 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, kindly contact our fiduciary agent with the below details for processing of your claims.
******************************************************************

Name: Mr. Alfred Atkins.
E-mail: admin55@walla.com
Tel:   +447031921128 +447031926955

Foreign Services Manager, Payment and Release order
Department, TRANS-ATLANTIC S.A LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM
******************************************************************

Note that all claims process and clearance procedures must be duly completed early to avoid impersonation arising to the issue of double claiming.

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.

Yours faithfully,
Mrs. Mariam Jackson.
Online Lottery Co-ordinator

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam