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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 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.
  • david_morrt@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Becky Aaron" <info_uknationllotterywinners@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 06 Jan 2006 15:27:19 -0700
Subject: HAPPY NEW YEAR: CONGRATULATIONS!!!

GOVERNMENT ACCREDITED LICENSED!! UK NATIONAL LOTTERY IS REGISTERED UNDER THE DATA PROTECTION ACT OF; (Registration Z720633X). UK NATIONAL LOTTERY P.O.Box 1010 Liver pool, L701NL, United Kingdom. Ref: BWLW/67451/01 Batch: 01/14/31711-3  FROM: Mrs.Becky Aaron, CONTROLLER                    SUBJECT: WINNING NOTIFICATION!!!!!:   We happily announce to you the draw (#1000) of the BRITISH WEB LOTTERY,online sweepstakes international program held on Monday 2nd january 2006 Your e-mail address attached  to ticket number:56475600545 188 with Serial number 5368/02 drew the lucky numbers: (bonus no.05), which subsequently won you the lottery in  in the 2nd category i.e match 5 plus bonus.You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of £750,000.00{Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Great Britain pounds Sterlings}  In cash credited to file KPC/9080118308/02.This is from a total cash prize of £7,500,000.00{Seven Million, Five Hundred Thousand Great  Britain pounds sterlings} shared amongst the {10} lucky winners in this category i.e Match  5 plus bonus. All participants for the online version were selected randomly from World Wide Web sites through computer draw system and extracted from over 100,000 union associations and corporate bodies that are listed online. This promotion takes place weekly.  Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our British booklet representative office in London as indicated in our play coupon. In view of this, your £750,000.00 {Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Great Britain pounds Sterlings} would be released to you by our affiliate Forwarding service in London. Our  agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your funds as soon as you contact him. For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claims is processed  and your money remitted to you in whatever manner you deem fit to claim your prize. This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program. Please be warned.        To File for your claim, please contact our claims agent with the following details. 1.Full names............................... 2.Date of birth............................ 3.Sex................ 4.Marital status........................... 5.Contact address........................... 6.Ocuppation................................ 7.Tel phone number.......................... 8.zip code............................. 9.Fax....................................... 11.Country................................. 12.Brief description of individual.............................. ......................................... Once these information are forwarded to us, modalities on how you can Claim your winning will commence. *************************************************************** Mr David Morret(CLAIMS AGENT) fax: 0044-870-478-7418 Email: david_morrt@yahoo.co.uk ***************************************************************        sincerely   Yours faithfully, Mrs.Becky Aaron. Online coordinator for UK NATIONAL LOTTERY Sweepstakes International Program

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam