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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• 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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "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.
  • clifford_richardsnl@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: "Grace Williams" <gracewilliams@fawz.net>
Date: Wed, 22 Feb 2006 12:11:02 +0300
Subject: AWARD NOTIFICATION FOR FEBRURY 2006



AWARD NOTIFICATION FOR FEBRURY 2006
HERITAGE LOTTERY SCOTLAND

THE DESK OF THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT,
REF: HLF/4751256003/43
BATCH: 14/0017/IPD
ATTENTION: SIR/MADAM,

                   RE/ AWARD NOTIFICATION; FINAL NOTICE
We are pleased to inform you of the announcement today that you are one of
the winners of the HERITAGE LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS held on 10th
of February 2006. Your email Address, attached to ticket number 067-6646-1892-890, with serial number: 2113-22 drew the lucky numbers: 13-15-22-37-39-43; the lottery was categorized into four zonal (Africa,America, Europe,Australia and Asia) stages with the amount won by individual respectively and consequently you have won the lottery in the 1st tcategory.

You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of 1,000,000.00 Euro[One Million Euro] Credited to file REF NO.HLF/4751256003/43.

This is from total prize of 17,000,000.00 Euro in 1st category shared
amongst the seventeen international winners in this category. All participants were selectedthrough a computer ballot system drawn from 15 million personal and Business email addresses from across the globe as part of International Promotions Program, which is conducted annually.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!

You are required keep this award to yourself until your claim has been
processed and your money remitted to you. This is part of our security
protocol to avoid double claiming or unscrupulous acts by participants of
this program.Through computer balloting you were been zoned for your winnings to be released in our Europe Payment office which is in United Kingdom.

To begin your claim, please contact your claim Agent with the details below:
NAME:Clifford Richards
Email Address: clifford_richardsnl@yahoo.co.uk  for due processing and remittance of your prize.
Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later than two weeks after the day of notification. After this date, all funds will be returned as unclaimed.

NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please
remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in every one of your
correspondences with your agent.

Furthermore, should there be any change of your address, do inform your
claims agent as soon as possible.
Congratulations again from all our staff and thank you for being part of
our promotions program.
Note: Anyboby under the age of 18 is NOT qualified.

Sincerely,
GRACE WILLIAMS
Promotions Manager

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam