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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "contact me immediately" (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.
  • +447031922628 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Harry Henderson" <hary_henderson@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 27 Jun 2006 20:58:35 +0000
Subject: Claims Procedure!!!

FROM: THE DESK OF THE EUROPEAN AGENT, UNIVERSAL TRUST INC, UNITED KINGDOM.

Attn: Lucky Winner,
Ref: win/oct102/05
Batch:05/10/wa34

This is to inform you that we have been intimated by Winners Jumbo Lottery
that you are one of the lucky winners in the first category of their
periodical promotional lotto program and we are to effect the immediate
transfer of your cash prize of $2,000,000.00.

Your prize has been insured to its principal value with your email address
and will be transferred upon meeting our requirements which is meant to
satisfy all official laws and protocols as mandated by the International
Gaming Board regulations and the Gaming Regulators European Forum (GREF).

To immediately initiate the processing of your prize claim, you are to
forward the following details to help facilitate the processing of your
winning certificate and the release of your funds.

1. Full names.
2. Residential address.
3. Phone number.
4. Nationality.
5. Age.
6. Sex.
7. Occupation.


You are adviced to forward these informations as soon as possible to enable
us attend to your file. Please note that there can be no deductions from the
prize money as it has been insured to its fullest value.

Your prize money shall be sent to you completely as it is against the
regulations of the GREF to deduct from the prize of winners.

You are also required to choose the mode in which you want to collect your
funds:

i. Travel down to personally collect it.

ii. Through our European agent, this are for those who are unable to travel
due to one reason or the other.

For the collection of your funds, you are to state the mode which you want
to collect your funds, while providing the above requirements for the
release of your funds. We shall forward to you an email with further
instructions regarding your claims procedure on receipt of your details.

Note that you will be required to state your Reference & Batch Number in
every correspondence; Please find this numbers below;

Reference number for your prize is:Ref: win/oct102/05
Batch:05/10/wa34

Be assured that in line with our principles of efficiency, transparency and
customer satisfaction, we will handle all transfer operations with the
highest level of professionalism and discretion to ensure you receive your
prize within the shortest possible time.

You will only help us by fulfilling all requirements as stated above and
accordingly as all procedures are meant to protect clients and to avoid
cases of misappropriation and mishandling of prize monies. You are required
to respond and act promptly to all instructions provided above.

Contact me immediately on my directline +447031922628 if you encounter any
problems processing your claims or wish to ask questions on issues not
understood.

Once again, Congratulations!!!

Yours sincerely,
Mr. Harry Henderson
Universal Trust Inc.

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam