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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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 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.
  • +27834772044 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • alijohnsonlotteryagent@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "ali johnson" <alijohnson0048@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 28 Sep 2006 01:32:51 +0000
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!!!

FROM:THE DESK OF THE MANAGING DIRECTOR
INTERNATIONAL/PRIZE AWARD DEPT
REFL2/209318/09
BATCH:18/103/HME.

Attn Dear Sir/Madam,

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Lottery Winners
International programs held on the 28/09/2006. Your e-mail address attached
to ticket number 653164251591-6011 with serial number 7321410,batch number
7151085135,lottery ref number 6376527711 and draw lucky numbers
4-9-17-36-44-78 which consequently won in the 1st category, you have
therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of US$1.500,000.00 (One
Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States dollars)

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep your winning
information confidential until your claims has been processed and your money
remitted to you. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double
claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some participants. All
participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from over
40,000 companies and 20,000,000 individual email addresses and names from
all over the world. This promotional program takes place every year. This
lottery was promoted and sponsored by Association of software producers. we
hope with part of your winning,you will take part in our next year US$20
million international lottery.
To file for your claim, please contact our paying officer:
====================================
Contact Person: Mr.Ali JOHNSON
Ads Promo Online Lottery Claims Agent
Email:alijohnsonlotteryagent@yahoo.co.uk
TEL:+278 3477 2044
====================================
You are advised to contact your claims agent with the following details to
avoid unnecessary delays and complications.

Full Name:.............................................
Residential Address:................................
E-mail Address:........................................
Direct Phone Number:.............................
Fax Number:............................................
Nationality............................................
Occupation.............................................
Age:.................. Sex.................................
Scan Copy Of Your Identity...................
Ticket Number:.......................................
Serial Number:.........................................
Batch Number:..........................................
Lucky Number:..........................................
Lottery Ref Number:....................................

As indicated in this winning Notification.
Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than two weeks after this
date of receiving this mail. After this date all unclaimed funds will be
included in the next stake. Please note in order to avoid unnecessary delays
and complications please remember to quote your reference number and batch
numbers in all correspondence. Furthermore, should there be any change of
address do inform our agent as soon as possible.
Congratulations once more from our members of staff and thank you for being
part of our promotional program.

Note:
Anybody under the age of 18 is automatically disqualified.
Yours Sincerely,
Mrs.Queensley Rhoda,
For Management.

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam