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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.

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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")
• 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.
  • +447880885287
• 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.
  • elotfinancialdept1@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs MARY STEWART" <overseasnotice82@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: elotfinancialdept1@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Wed, 19 Jul 2006 16:45:08 -0500
Subject: CONGRATULATION !!!

Dear Winner,
 

RE: BONUS LOTTERY PROMOTION PRIZE AWARDS WINNING NOTIFICATION 
 
 
We are pleased to notify you of the release today as dated of the "UK's Overseas Lottery International Promotions programme held on  July 1st 2006 .
 
Participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from a pool of over 25,000 names of distinguished professionals drawn from Europe, America, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Middle-East, parts of Africa, and North & South America as part of our international promotions programme conducted annually to encourage prospective overseas entries. We hope with part of your prize awards, you will take part in our subsequent lottery jackpots. The result of our computer draw 844 selected your name and email address attached to e-Ticket Number 034-22478556 with serial number 129, which drew the lucky number 06-09-13-15-40-43-02 and consequently won the lottery grand prize award in the 3rd category.
 
Therefore, you have won a lottery jackpot prize awards of &pound;850,950.00 (Eight Hundred and Fifty Thousand, Nine Hundred and Fifty pounds Sterling Only) in cash prize credited to file Ref. No: UKNL/255457004/04. This is from the total prize of &pound; 18,486,220. 00 (Eighteen Million, Four Hundred and Eighty Six Thousand, Two Hundred and Twenty Pounds Sterlings) shared among the Thirty-Eight overseas lucky winners in this category as part of our promotional programme for 2004.
 
 Your prize award has been insured in your name and is ready for claim. To begin your claims therefore, you are advised to expeditiously contact our licensed and accredited claim agent for Overseas Lottery Winners within a period of 21 days (date of this letter inclusive) for the processing of your winning and remittance to your designated bank account after all statutory obligations have!been satisfactorily dispensed with.
 
Please be informeD that$claims not proceswed within the stipulated Period may be forfeitted to the pool without further notice.You may wmsh to establish0sontact ~ia e-mail with the particulars presented below citing the batch and reference numbers to this letter. Telephone lines are open between the hours of 8.00am - 7.30pm on Monday through Friday

Customer Service Unit,
Elot Financial Reconciliation Inc.,
Contact person: MR JACK SMITH
Email: elotfinancialdept1@yahoo.co.uk
Telephone: +4478-8088-5287
Fax: +4420-8181-7064
 
Our winners are assured of the utmost standards of confidentiality, and press anonymity until the end of proceedings, and beyond where they so desire. Be further advised to maintain the strictest level of confidentiality until the end of proceedings to circumvent problems associated with fraudulent cliams.
 
CONGRATULATION !!!
 
At your disposal, we remain.
 
Very Truly Yours,
 
MARY STEWART  (Mrs.),

Director.
 
International Promotions Unit,
 
UK OVERSEAS LOTTERY,
 
Airport Hale Rd Halebarns
 
Altrincham Cheshire WA15 8XW UK

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam