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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +4407005978233
• 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.
  • mrjay65@hotmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: info@eurolotteryinternational.com
Date: Fri, 09 Jun 2006 15:51:04 +0200
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE WON THE LOTTERY

EURO INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY
12 BRIDGE STREET,
STAINES MIDDLESEX TW18 4TP UK
UNITED KINGDOM

Dear Sir/Madam

This is to inform you that you have been selected for a cash prize of £800.000 (EIGHT
HUNDRED THOUSAND GREAT BRITISH POUNDS) International lottery programs held on
Thursday 8th of June, 2006 in London(The United Kingdom).

The selection process was carried out through random selection in our computerized email selection
system (ESS) from a database of over 250,000 email addresses of Individuals and companys
drawn from all the continents of the world. This Lottery is approved by the British Gaming Board
and also Licensed by the The International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR). This
promotional lottery is the tenth of its kind. To begin the processing
of your prize claim you are to contact your claims officer through our accredited Prize Transfer
agents as stated below:

Mr. Michael Hodge
(Claim agent)
CEO "LINK TRUST FINANCE LTD"
101 Collins Street, EC2V 7QP
London, England
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 700 597 8233
Fax: +44 (0) 870 131 8453
Cell: +44 (0) 703 191 3963
E-mail: mrjay65@hotmail.com

Contact him as soon as possible, provide him with your secret pin code x7pwyz2005 and your
reference number BWBI:2551256003/23. Failure to contact your claims agent of this notification
will result to your winnings being revoked. Winners are advised to keep their winning
details/information from the public to avoid fraudulent claim (IMPORTANT) pending the
transfer/claim by Winner.

Accept my hearty congratulations once again!

Regards,
Mrs. Susan Sherarton
Director Gen. of Operations

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam