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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:
  • "claims 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!
• 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.
  • +447040129746 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +448712474811 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "FUN LOTTO UK" <funlottouk2006@msn.com>
Date: Thu, 12 Jan 2006 01:26:47 +0000
Subject: FUN LOTTO UK NEWYEAR SPECIALS

FUN LOTTO UK
47 COLD HARBOUR
LONDON, E14 9NS
UNITED KINGDOM

Dear Winner,

We are pleased to announce you as one of the 3 lucky winners in the FUN
LOTTO UK draw held on 7th of January. All 3 winning addresses were randomly
selected from a batch of 5,000,000 international emails. Your email address
emerged alongside 2 others as a 3rd category winner in this
month's draw.

Consequently,you have therefore been approved for a total pay out of
2,000,000 Pounds (Two million pounds) only.The following particulars are
attached to your lotto payment order:

(i) Winning numbers: 7, 31, 62, 21, 74, 80
(ii) Serial number: 21-8-1974
(iii) Lotto batch number: FL-101
(iv) Reference number: SBF-404-1

Please contact the underlisted claims officer as soon as possible for the
immediate release of your winnings:

Mr.Tony Smith
Claims Department Manager
BLUE SKY FINANCE
Email: tonysmith@blueskyfin.net
Tel: +44 7040129746
Fax: +44 2076812724


Once again on behalf of all our staff, CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Sincerely,

Mr.Gareth Edwards
Promotions Manager
Fax: +44 8712474811


N.B:
1.All claims are nullified after 10 working days from today.
2.Your Ref number must be in all your mails with the claims officer.
3.Do inform the claims officer of any change of names or addresses.
4.All winners under the age of 18 are automatically dis-qualified.
5.Please contact your claims agent by fax or email (Mr Tony Smith).

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam