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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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!

Fraud email example:

From: "UK Fidiciarygames" <info_ukfiduciarygames@msn.com>
Reply-To: sharoncole_claimsofficer@walla.com
Date: Sun, 15 Jan 2006 07:33:15 +0000
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION MAIL.

 

From:UKHOPE NATIONAL LOTTERY PROMOTIONS
Ref. Number: 132/756/4534
Batch number: 638901527-AMB/05

CONGRATULATIONS,

We are pleased to inform you of the lottery result
winners
International programmes held on 14TH JANUARY 2006.
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 hasbeen processed
and your money remitted to your nominated bank.
Thisis 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:
Sharon Cole(Mrs)
E-mail address: sharoncole_claimsofficer@walla.com

Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than
10th February 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,
Richard K. Lloyd.
Lottery coordinator.
LONDON,UK.

 

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam