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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
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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:
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash)
• 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.
  • rowlands_mith@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: britain lotto <britainlotto@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 16 Mar 2006 02:37:37 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: THE INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY


THE INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY
19 TANFIELD ROAD
CROYDON
L70 1NL
UNITED KINGDOM.
Ref: LSUK/2031/7168/67
Batch: R3/A377-69

WINNING NOTIFICATION:
We happily announce to you the draw (#1016) of the UK
NATIONAL LOTTERY, online Sweepstakes International Program held
on Monday 6th March,2006.Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: 1904243377/5, with Serial number 109/04 Drew the lucky
numbers:08,41,13,31,30,46,and a bonus ball of 05 which won the jackpot prize.
You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of £1,834,670 (One million
million, eight hundred and thirty four thousand six hundred and seventy pounds sterling) in cash credited to file U/023009909/0.
All participants for the online version were selected Randomly from the World Wide Web through a computer draw system and extracted from over 90,000 unions,
associations, and Corporate bodies that are listed online.This promotion Takes place weekly.
Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our Asian booklet representative office in Asia as Indicated in your play coupon. In view of this, your £1,834,670 would be released to you by our payment Officer.
To file for your claim, Please contact
our fiduciary agent:
Mr.Rowland Smith.
Email:rowlands_mith@yahoo.co.uk
Provide him with the information
below:
1. Name:
2. Address:
3. Marital Status:
4. Occupation:
5. Age:
6. Sex:
7. Nationality:
8. Country Of Residence:
9. Telephone Number:
10. Fax Number:
11. Draw Number above:
You would be required to show an instrument of identification when Cashing your Cheque i.e. Drivers license or International Passport.
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.
Good luck from me and members of staff of the U.K
INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY.
Yours faithfully,
Sir John Anderson.
Online Co-coordinator for U.K ,

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam