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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:
  • "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.
  • +27761345280 (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.
  • james_smith_a6@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "lottery winner" <united_kingdom_za81@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 17 Oct 2006 10:11:31 +0000
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS: YOU HAVE WON!!!!!!!!!

                            THE BRITISH LOTTERY 2006   
                                                        
BRITISH LOTTERY HEADQUARTERS,
CUSTOMERS SERVICES,
33 YATCH BASIN MARINA OFFICE,
UPON TYNE NEW CASTLE LONDON.
Batch: 14/211/0374: Ref: BTL/311OXI/02.

                                          
                   CONGRATULATIONS: YOU HAVE WON!!!!

 

We happily announce to you the draw of the British lottery program held in London, Your e-mail address attached, to ticket number: 694/7560/0545/721 with Serial number: 886/04 drew the lucky numbers: 016/213/3517, which subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category, you are therefore, been approved to claim a total sum of £1,000.000.00 (One Million Pounds Only) in cash credited to file RPC/9080/1153/2244 This is from a total cash prize of  £125 million pounds starlings.

 

This year Lottery Program Jackpot is the largest ever for British Lottery; the estimated 125 million jackpots would be the sixth biggest in U.K. history, The biggest was the 363 million pounds starlings’ jackpot that went to two winners in December 2005 drawing of The Big Game, Mega Millions' predecessor. Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our African booklet representative office in South Africa as indicated in our play coupon, In view of this, your £1,000.000.00 (One Million Pounds Only) would be released to you by our affiliate bank in South Africa.

 

Our agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your funds as soon as you contact him. For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claim your fund, is processed and your money remitted to you in whatever manner you demand fit to claim your prize.

 

This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program. Please be warned.

 

PLEASE CONTACT YOUR CLAIM AGENT IMMEDIATELY THROUGH EMAIL OR YOU CALL HIM.

 

Mr.  James Smith      

Phone Number:  +27761345280

Contact Email:   james_smith_a6@yahoo.com

  

Endeavor to email him with your full names, winning numbers, email address, telephone and fax numbers immediately.

 

Congratulations; from me and members of staff of THE UK NATIONAL LOTTERY.

 

Yours faithfully lotto manager.

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Use your PC to make calls at very low rates

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam