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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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "fiduciary 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.
  • hodge.michael@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • hodge.michael@mail.vu (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: info@eurolottery.com
Date: Fri, 16 Jun 2006 00:05:53 +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 following particulars are attached to your lotto payment order:

(I) Batch No: BTOW/3009/TFC
(ii) Ticket No: 734-512-222
(iii) Lucky No: 50-13-55-33-66
(iv) Ref No: BWBI:2551256003/23
(V) Secret PIN No: x7pwyz2005

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: hodge.michael@hotmail.com
hodge.michael@mail.vu

The Euro International Lottery Program internet draw is held once in a year and is so organized to encourage the use of the internet and computers worldwide. We are proud to say that over 200 Million Euros are won annually in more than 140 countries worldwide. To claim your winning prize you are to contact the appointed agent as soon as possible for the immediate release of your winnings:

N.B: Steps to claiming your prize;

1. Please quote your Reference number in all correspondence with the claims officer.

2. You must contact the appointed agent with your Full Names, Contact Telephone Numbers (Home, Office and Mobile Number and also Fax Number) via email to process the immediate payment of your prize.

3. Be informed that the appointed agent will be required to swear an Affidavits of Lotto Claim and also obtain Approval Legal Clearance Certificate from the Court here in England which is in accordance with the European Union Financial Act 2004 on payment of International Lottery Winners.

Please be aware that the PAYING BANK will Effect Payment Swiftly upon satisfactory Report, Verifications and validation provided by this fiduciary agent. For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claims is processed and your money remitted to you.

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