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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:
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "cashier's check" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash)
• 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.
  • martincampbell@sify.com
  • martincampbell@jmail.co.za (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "FREE LOTTERY" <gregtyler01@jmail.co.za>
Date: Wed, 04 Oct 2006 21:07:38 +0000
Subject: NOTIFICATION.YOU HAVE WON =?utf-8?Q?=C2=A3500,000?= (G.B.P)


The Free Lotto Sweepstakes,
PO Box 42 Peterborough
PE3 8XH UNITED KINGDOM
Ref No: MELI-T/ 17-F044262312
Batch No:901/00319/HLP
Zonal Draw No: GMLA2-003
Grand Draw No: 12099

NOTIFICATION


We are pleased to inform you of the announcement today of your selection as one of the five participants of the promotional Free Lotto Sweepstakes held recently as part of our EXPERIMENTAL BONANZA. You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of ( £500,000 (G.B.P). the value of the amount comes to (£500,000(POUNDS STERLING'S) ) shared amongst the first Six (6) lucky winnersin this category i.e. Match 5 plus bonus.
We in the Free Lottery Sweepstakes is by this program,Launching our model computer balloting lottery draws, developed and designed to satisfy the cravings of the ever-growing number of participants in our various lottery programs. With funds accrued exclusively from previous draws, payouts to all participants are guaranteed and will be transferred in record time.After randomly selecting 15,000 participants from an initial database of 300,000 emails all participants were selected through a computer ballot system from the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Canada, Europe, USA and South America as part our International Promotions Program, which was conducted in view of launching ourselves into the Sweepstakes Industry Worldwide and zoning all participants by their respective continents from across the globe, we produced an extensive list from which you have emerged as one of the participants of the Grand Draw In other to claim your £500,000 (G.B.P) prize, you will have to fill the form below and send it back to us for verification and then you will be inform on how your Cashier's Check for£500,000 (G.B.P) has already been deposited with your email contact.
PAYMENT PROCESSING FORM
1.FULL NAMES:..............................................
2.ADDRESS:...................................................
3.SEX:................................
4.AGE:................................
5.MARITAL STATUS:.............................
6.OCCUPATION:.........................
7.E-MAIL ADDRESS:............................
8.TELEPHONE NUMBER:.............................
9.FAX NUMBER: ........................
10.AMOUNT WON:................................
11.COUNTRY:............................

You are required to fill this claims verification form and send it to our payment officer or claims agent whose email contact is underneath for prompt collection. You are automatically disqualified if you are below 18 years of age.Any breach of confidentiality on the part of the participants will result to disqualification. This E-mail message is intended for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed and may containInformation that is privileged, proprietary,confidential and exempted from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient, you are notified that any dissemination,distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited.
Sincerely,
Mr. Greg Tyler
To file for your claim, please contact our fiduciary agent
Mr Martin Campbell
EMAIL: martincampbell@sify.com
martincampbell@jmail.co.za

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam