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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "foreign service manager" (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)
  • "million us 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.
  • revdrbenmartin@ny.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "JOHN SMART" <urbanlotto_international1@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 13 Feb 2006 20:15:21 +0100
Subject: AWARD NOTIFICATION!!

FROM: THE DESK OF THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER,
URBAN LOTTO INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT

REF NO: 15/0018/IPD

BATCH NO: EGS/ 22504002/05

ATTN: WINNER.

RE: c, FINAL NOTICE AWARD NOTIFICATION.

We are pleased to inform you, that as a result of our RECENT LOTTERY DRAWS
HELD on the 3rd of January 2006.Your e-mail address attached to ticket
number:085-12876077-09 with serial number:51390-0 drew lucky
numbers:03-05-12-14-38 which consequently won in the 5th category.you have
therefore been approved for a lump sum pay of (ONE MILLION US DOLLARS ONLY)
in cash credited to file with REF: º.EGS/3662367114/13.Note that all
participants in this lottery program have been selected randomly through a
computer ballot system drawn from over 20,000 Officials and 30,000,000
individual email addresses from all search engines and web sites,from Asia,
Australia, New Zealand, Europe, North and South America, Middle East and
Africa, as part of our International Promotions Program. This promotional
program takes place every year,and is promoted and sponsored by eminent
personalities like the Sultan of Brunei,Bill Gates of microsoft inc and
other corporate organizations.This is to encourage the use of the internet
and computers worldwide.

Your fund is now deposited with the bank and insured in your name For
security purpose and clarity,we advise that you keep your winning
information confidential until your claims have been processed and your
money remitted to your account.This is part of our security protocol to
avoid double claims and unwarranted abuse of this program by some
participants.We look forward to your active participation in our next 4
million dollars slot. To begin the processing of your prize you are to
contact your claims agent through our accredited Prize Transfer agents as
stated below:

REV.DR BEN MARTIN,
FOREIGN SERVICE MANAGER,
E MAIL: revdrbenmartin@ny.com

When you contact him, please provide him with your secret BATCH NO,SERIAL
NO.You are also advised to provide him with the under listed information as
soon as possible:

1. Name in full
2. Address
3,Contact address.

All winnings must be claimed not later than one month After the date of this
notice.Please note,in order to avoid unnecessary delays and
complications,remember to quote your reference number and batch numbers in
all correspondence. Furthermore,should there be any change of address do
inform our agent as soon as possible. Congratulations! once more and thank
you for being part of our promotional program.

Sincerely,

Mr John Smart.

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam