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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "fiduciary 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!

Fraud email example:

From: Martin Davis <officermartindavis@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 30 Sep 2006 14:29:00 +0100 (BST)
Subject: ATTENTION: REF: VHFL/67-AO91652006


ATTENTION: REF: VHFL/67-AO91652006
I am Mr Martin Davis the fiduciary agent assigned to your case. I wish to Congratulate you on your victory,you are a lucky person to have won this lottery.
Your email address was chosen this quarter from our new java-based
software promotion that randomly selects email addresses from the web from which winners are selected. You are required to forward the following details to help facilitate the processing of your claims and certificate to enable the release of your winnings.
1. Full names.
2. Residential address.
3. Phone number.
4. Fax number.
5. Occupation.
6. Sex.
7. Age.
8. Nationality.
You are adviced to forward these informations as soon as possible to
enable us attend to your file.Please note that your funds have been
deposited safely in a security firm in Europe,and your information will be
forwarded to them before they can release your winnings.
After you have sent down these information, a certificate will be prepared for you. This is to be your proof of winning from this office to the payment center before they release your funds.You are adviced to keep your winning numbers to yourself to avoid unscripulous elements from taking advantage of the situation.
Once again, congratulations.
Regards,
Mr Martin Davis
...........................................................................................................................................................................
This email and its attachments are confidential and intended for the
exclusive use of the addresse(s). This email and its attachments may also be privileged or protected by legal rules. If you have received this by mistake please let us know by reply immediately and destroy the email and its attachments without reading, copying or forwarding the contents.


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam