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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:
  • "million united states dollars" (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 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.
  • claimsagent147@sify.com

Fraud email example:

From: "company firm" <fcompany_2@msn.com>
Date: Sat, 07 Jan 2006 18:40:06 +0000
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION

From:Ukhope Lottery promotions

Ref. Number: 132/756/4534

Batch number: 638901527-AMB/02

Sir/ Madam,

We are pleased to inform you of the lottery result winners

International programmes held on 15th December 2005.

Your e-mail address was attached to ticket number 278511465896-6452

with your serial number 3772-554 drew you a lucky number
3-14-18-23-31-45

which consequently won in the first category, you are therefore been

approved for lump sum pay out of US$ 3,000,000 (Three million United
states
Dollars)

CONGRATULATIONS ! ! !

Due to mix up of some numbers and names, you are advised

to keep your winning information confidential until your claims has

been processed and your money remitted to your nominated bank.

This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claims and
unwarranted

abuse of this programme by some participants. All participants were
selected
through an e-mail balloting.

This promotional programme takes place every three years.

To file for your claim, please contact our fiducially agent:

MR.RICHARD TAYLOR

E-mail address:claimsagent147@sify.com

Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than 30th January 2006
Please note, in order to avoid unnecessary delays and
complications,remember
to quote your reference number and batch number in all correspondence.
Furthermore, should there be any change of address do inform our agent
as
soon as possible.

Once again congratulations .

Best regards,

DR. DAVID BROWN.

Lottery coordinator.

LONDON,UK.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam