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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!
  
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• 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:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • +2348037652490 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
  • +2348059800473 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: drmcole112@aim.com
Date: Mon, 13 Feb 2006 03:06:17 -0500
Subject: THE WAY FORWARD

Dear Winner,

This is to acknowledge receipt of your winning. I am Dr.mrs Maria Cole
the Nigerian Regional Claims Agent of the Australian Lottery
International. Your winning Informations are well stated and is being
processed by this office for your winning payment, after which you Will
proceed to our corresponding paying bank for Immediate release of your
prize to you.

You are to fill our acknowledgement form attached with this email and
submit immediately you receive it via email attachment. Make sure that
you follow instructions stated in the form to avoid any breach in
the processing of your winnings.

Feel very free to call me at +234-80-37652490

for further proceeding in regards to your winnings/prize. I
congratulate you once more and make good use of your winning/prize.

Dr.mrs Maria Cole.

(Regional Claims Agent)

N:B. FORWARD AS WELL TO INFORMATIONS TO THE BANK WITH THEIR CONTACT
INFORMATION BELOW
CONTACT PERSON: DR. GREG LAWSON.
STANDARD TRUST BANK NIGERIA PLC
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR EXCHANGE CONTROL AND INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE

STANDARD TRUST BANK PLAZA
#1 BANKROAD WUSA FCT
ABUJA-NIGERIA.
TEL:234-8059800473
FAX: 234-833008417
E-MAIL:info@standardtrustbankcorp.com
foreign.remittance.dept@standardtrustbankcorp.com

NO TIME DELAY SHOULD BE ENCOUNTERED ON THIS MATTER. IF YOU NEED FURTHER
ASSISTANCE REGARDS TO THIS MATTER, PLEASE DO NOT HESSISTATE TO CONTACT
ME AS WE OPEN 24HRS FROM MONDAY TILL SUNDAY.

NOTE: THIS FORM IS TO BE FILLED AND SENT BACK TO THIS OFFICE
IMMEDIATELY VIA EMAIL ATTACHMENT WITH YOUR SCANNED INTERNATIONAL
PASSPORT OR DRIVER'S LICENSE OR ANY IDENTITY CARD FOR PROPER
IDENTIFICATION.
________________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam