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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "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!

Fraud email example:

From: "EDWARD DUKES" <edwardduke_a88@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: edwardadukes@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 23 May 2006 18:15:17 +0000
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS DEAR

214 Millenium Gate
West mere Drive
Crewe, Cheshire CW1 6AY
FROM: TRAN GLOBAL SECURITY & SERVICES LOTTERY LONDON
REF NUMBER: 014/060/532 BATCH NUMBER: 762901-PCD03

Sir/Madam,

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Lottery Winners
International programs held on the 14TH MARCH 2006. Your e-mail address
attached to ticket number 27522465896-6453 with serial number 3772-554 drew
lucky numbers 7-14-18-23-31-45 which consequently won in the 2nd category,
you have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of 1,000,000.00
(EUROS )

(ONE MILLION EUROS) CONGRATULATIONS!!! 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 you. This is part of our
security protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this
program by some participants. All participants were selected through a
computer ballot system drawn from over 20,000 companies and 30,000,000
individual email addresses and names from all over the world. This
promotional program takes place every year.

This lottery was promoted and sponsored by eminent personalities like the
Sultan of Brunei. We look forward to your active participation in our next
year USD50 million slot. You are requested to contact our Filicidal agent
office to assist you with the claim and transfer of your winnings fund into
your instructed account, please just feel free to contact the claims agent
manager

Contact: MR. MARK RICHARDSON
Tel: 00447040107177
E-mail address:markrichardson@transgloblass.com

Note that all winnings must be claimed not later than one month. After this
date all unclaimed funds will be null and void. Please note in order to
avoid unnecessary delays and complications, remember to quote your reference
number and batch numbers in all correspondence.

Congratulations once more and thank you for being part of our promotional
program.
NOTE: YOU ARE AUTOMATICALLY DISQUALIFIED IF YOU ARE BELOW 18 YEARS OF AGE.

Sincerely yours,

EDWARD DUKE
(Lottery Coordinator)

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam