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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:
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "into your nominated bank account" (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)
  • "deadline" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
• 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.
  • +447005982934 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• 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.
  • winner.info@btinternet.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "lotto\.info" <lotto.info@itelefonica.com.br>
Date: Fri, 16 Jun 2006 08:13:00 -0300
Subject: Online Cyber


FROM:THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT
ONLINE CYBER PROMOTION DEPT.

REFERENCE NUMBER:- PF-008006-US/01
BATCH NUMBER:- 105/NJ/020-06

We are officially informing you of the recent Online Cyber E-MAIL draws held on 26th FEB. 2006. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number:TC-203 25 004 with serial number: 011-055 drew the lucky numbers: 48 69 74 85 92 which consequently won in the"B"Category. You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of {USD$950,215.00}(NINE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND,TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN DOLLARS ONLY)Total funds has now been deposited and insured with our affiliated security firm for transfer into your nominated bank account either by means of wire transfers through any of our correspondent banks or any other means suitable to you.

We also advice that you keep your winning information very confidential as our security ! pol icy demands to avoid double claims/impersonation and unwarranted abuse of this program by some individuals.Note that All participants in this lotto program have been selected randomly through a computer ballot system drawn from over 10,000 companies and 20,000,000 individual email addresses from all search engines and websites of the following countries Europe,America,Asia,Australia,New Zealand,Middle East,Africa,and North & South America.This promotional program takes place every year, and it is promoted and sponsored by eminent personalities like the Sultan of Brunei, Bill Gates of Microsoft Inc. and other corporate organisations.This is to encourage the use of the internet and computers worldwide.

For security purpose and clarity, we advice 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 claims and unwarranted abuse of th! is program by some participants. We look forward to your active participation in our next Two million euro slot.

Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our European booklet representative office in London. In view of this, your USD$950,215.00 (NINE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND,TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN DOLLARS) would be released to you by our affiliated paying bank in Europe.Our agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your funds to you as soon as you make contact with him.

To begin your claim please contact your claims agent:
Mr.John Freeman
Manager Remittance Department
Government Accredited Licensed Claim Agent.
Information and Payment Bureau.
London Representative Office.
TEL/FAX:+44-7005982934
E-mail: winner.info@btinternet.com

Provide him with the following details, as this will enbale him to start the processing of your claim s.
Your Full Name:
Telephone and fax Numbers:
Residental Address:
Nationality:
Ref Number:
Batch Number:
Tiket/Lucky Number:
Serial Number:

For processing and remittance of your prize money to a designated account of your choice.I want to categorically state that there will be no further extension of deadline for any winner who is unable to finalise further claims procedures before the deadline one month after the date of This notice,as such funds will be automatically tagged as unclaimed and returned for the next sweepstake.Winners are to immediately request for the certificate of claims as soon as claims process is completed.

Be advised that most payments have been approved, and authorisation will only be based on your response within the next 72 working hours from now.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,reme mber to quote your reference number and batch numbers in all correspondence,Furthermore should there be any change of address do inform your claim agent as soon as possible.
We Congratulations you Once more and thank you for being part of our promotional program.

Yours Sincerely,
Mrs.Alice Brown
Online Cyber Promotion.
Information Department

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam