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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:
  • "claim 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.
  • +447024060287 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +448715045621 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mary Ann" <claims_ann@msn.com>
Reply-To: uk_fiduciary@accountant.com
Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2006 08:01:57 +0000
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!!!

The National Lottery
P O Box 1010
Liverpool, L70 1NL
UNITED KINGDOM
(Customer Services)
Ref: UK/9420X2/68
Batch: 074/05/ZY369

FINAL WINNING NOTIFICATION:
 

Dear Lucky Winner,
RE: BONUS LOTTERY PROMOTION PRIZE AWARDS WINNING NOTIFICATION
 
We are pleased to notify you the draw (999) of the UK NATIONAL
LOTTERY, Online Sweepstakes International Lottery Program held on
thJanuary 2006
 
Participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from
a pool of over 25,000 names of distinguished professionals drawn from
Europe, America, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Middle-East, parts of
Africa, and North & South America as part of our international
promotions programme conducted annually to encourage prospective
overseas entries. We hope with part of your prize awards, you will
take part in our subsequent lottery jackpots.
 
The result of our computer draw (#978) selected your name and email
address attached to e-ticket number: 56475600545 188 with Serial
number 5368/02 drew the lucky numbers: 08.14.19.28.29.48 (06 Bonus
Ball), which subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category
i.e. match 5 plus bonus. You have therefore been approved to claim a
total sum of £1,856,652(One Million Eight Hundred AND Fifty Six
Thousand, Six Hundred and Fifty Two Pounds Sterling) in cash credited
to file KTU/9023118308/03.This is from a total cash prize of
£16,533,022 shared amongst the first Six (6) lucky winners in this
category i.e. Match 5 plus bonus.
 
Your prize award has been insured in your name and is ready for
claims. To begin your claims therefore, you are advised to
expeditiously contact our licensed and accredited claim agent for
Overseas Lottery Winners within a period of 21 days (date of this
email inclusive) for the processing of your winning and remittance to
your designated bank account after all statutory obligations have
been satisfactorily dispensed with.
 
This promotion takes place weekly. Please note that your lucky winning
number falls within our European booklet representative office in
Europe as indicated in your play coupon. In view of this, your
5,856,652(Five Million Eight Hundred AND Fifty Six Thousand, Six
Hundred and Fifty Two Pounds Sterling) would be released to you by
any of our payment offices in Europe.
 
Please be informed that claims not processed within the stipulated
period may be forfeited to the pool without further notice.
 
Our European agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate
the release of your funds as soon as you contact him. You may wish to
establish contact via e-mail with the particulars presented below
citing the batch and reference numbers to this letter between the
hours of 8.00am - 7.30pm on Monday through Friday
 
Overseas Claims Unit
United Kingdom Lottery Fiduciary
Contact Person: MR. Jackson Wax
Email: uk_fiduciary@accountant.com
Tel: +44-702-406-0287
     +44-871-504-5621
Fax: +44-870-478-1396
 
Our winners are assured of the utmost standards of confidentiality,
and press anonymity until the end of proceedings, and beyond where
they so desire. Be further advised to maintain the strictest level of
confidentiality until the end of proceedings to circumvent problems
associated with fraudulent claims. This is part of our precautionary
measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this
program.
 
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
At your disposal, we remain
Very Truly Yours,
Mary Ann

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam