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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:

• 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:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "foreign service manager" (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)
• 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 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.
  • stella_white@myway.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "lotto2006promo" <lotto2006promo@terra.com.mx>
Date: Wed, 26 Jul 2006 19:32:23 -0600
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION


RE/ AWARD NOTIFICATION; FINAL NOTICE.
We are pleased to inform you of the announcement of winners of the VICTORY PROMO LOTTERY, THE UK/LONDON INTERNATIONAL, PROGRAMS Held on 28th June 2006. Your mail address, is attached to ticket number 023-0148-790-459, with serial number 5073-11 drew the lucky numbers43-11-44-37-10-43, Consequently you won the lottery in the 3rd category.
You have therefore been approved for a lump sum Pay out of US$5,500.000.00 in cash credited to file REF NO. SSW/25041238013/03. This is from total prize Money of US$80,400,000.00 shared among the seventeen international Winners in this category.
All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from a collation of frequent internet users from all over the world from Australia, New Zealand, America, Europe, North America, Africa and Asia as part of International Promotions Program, which is conducted bi-annually.
CONGRATULATIONS! Your fund is now deposited with a Security company insured in your name. Due to the mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep this award strictly from public notice until your claim has been processed and your money remitted to your account. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming or unscrupulous acts by participants of this program. We hope with a part of your prize, you will participate in our end of year high stakes US$1.3 billion International Lottery. To begin your claim, please address your mail to MRS.STELLA WHITE,stella_white@myway.com . FOREIGN SERVICE MANAGER, RAYMOND CROSSROAD, UK/LONDON, For due processing and remittance of your prize money to a designated account of your choice. Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later than 5th August, 2006. After this date, all funds will be returned as unclaimed.
NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in every one of your correspondences with your agent. Furthermore, should there be any change of your address, do inform your claims agent as soon as possible. Congratulations again from all our staff and thank you for being part
of our promotions program.
Sincerely,
MR.JOHN ANDERSON,
THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER,
VICTORY PROMO LOTTERY.
N.B. Any breach of confidentiality on the part of any of our winners will result to disqualification. SORRY FOR THE LATE INFORMATION THANKS.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam