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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:
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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "hundred thousand 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!
• 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.
  • mrserika2@hutchcity.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "UNIVERSAL POWERBALL" <universalpowerball@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: mrserika2@hutchcity.com
Date: Mon, 20 Feb 2006 01:18:32 -0900
Subject: Prize Award Winning Notification(congratulations).

From: Mrs.Erika Owen.
Universal Powerball.
2645 Long Lake Road,
Roseville, MN 55113
USA.

Universal Powerball
Tolpits Lane, Watford, Herts,
WD18 9RN
UK.

Reference number: 500/UPB221
Serial number: UPB 2125
WINNING NOTIFICATION
We are happy to announce to you the draw of the Universal Power Ball
Organization. Lottery programs which was held on the 16th of February,2006
in Roseville, Minnesota USA. Your e-mail address was matched to Serial
number UPB 2125 drew the winning: 05/UK/24/17/48, which subsequently won
you the lottery in the 1st category.

You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of US$1,480,000.00
(One Million Four Hundred and Eighty Thousand United StatesDollars Only) in
cash credited to file UPB/4067983651/05.This is from a total cash prize of
US$23,500,000.0 (Twenty Three Million Five Hundred Thousand United States
Dollars) shared amongst the first Fifteen (15) lucky winners in this
category all over the globe. In this our newly introduced programme, no
purchase is necessary. To participate in Universal Power Ball online, you
must have a valid email address. Selections are done automatically through
our machine to select through extraction, the first twelve million email
addresses and then selection of Fifteen randomly. The twelve million will
be entered to the Present Draw. Email addresses that Match all 5 (five)
Numbers in Correct Order, in any drawing shall be winners and will receive
Grand Cash Prize of $600 to $250,000, $1,480,000 and $3,480,000.00
Depending on the Promo. All Winners are asked!to submit email addresses,
their names, phone numbers and physical addresses. Each Winner must use a
unique email address, i.e. two people cannot use a shared email account to
claim Universal Power Ball Lotto Prize. The contest is open to anyone with
a valid email address - anywhere in the world.

Winners are selected in a random drawing to be conducted online
automatically, by 6/60 lottery secured and audited software. All winners
will be notified by e-mail, several times, and requested to verify their
names addresses. If a winner fails to respond after 30 days, they forfeit
their claim. Prizes are paid by bank check and Bank Transfer depending on
the category. Delivery of prizes takes only 10 days, after winner\\\\\\\'s
notification of his/her name, phone and physical address.

Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our
Euro/Asian/American booklet representative offices in Watford/Minnesota as
indicated in your winning coupon. In view of this, your US$1,480,000.00
(One Million Four Hundred and Eighty Thousand United States Dollars Only)
would be released to you by our payment center in New York/London. Our
Payment Center will immediately commence the process to facilitate the
release of your winning amount as soon as you contact them. This promotion
takes place annually. For security reasons, you are advised to keep your
winning information strictly confidential till your claims is processed and
your winning amount is 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 by some unscrupulous
elements.

Please be informed that all winning must be claimed before 30 days received
this information and to avoid unnecessary delays and complications,please
quote your reference/serial numbers in any correspondences with us or our
payment center. Also, double winner will only be allowed to claim one of
his/her prize. You are advised to acknowledge the receipt of this
information in order to give you a guide line on how to contact our payment
center in New York/London.

Congratulations once more from all members and staffs of this program that
has successfully won this competition. Thank you for being part of our
promotional lottery Program Organized by Universal Power Ball.

Sincerely,
Mrs.Erika Owen.
EMAIL Cc; mrserika2@hutchcity.com

N.B: Any review, Retransmission, dissemination or other use of this
Information, or taking of any action in reliance upon this information, by
person or entities other than the Intended recipient is prohibited.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam