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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
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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "cheque " (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.
  • kelvin_claims@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: "National Lottery" <uklottery@rediffmail.com>
Date: 24 Oct 2006 04:45:31 -0000
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!!!


PEPSI PROMOTIONS 2006.
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the just concluded annualfinal draws held on the 2TH OF OCTOBER, 2006&nbsp; PEPSI Company WorldwidePromotion,&nbsp; your email&nbsp; was among the 20 Lucky winners who won£1,000,000.00 each on the PEPSI Company.
However the results were released on the 6TH OF OCTOBER, 2006 and&nbsp; youremail was attached to ticket number (PSPPR2006) and ballot number(BN:225182006/20). The online draws was conducted by a random selection ofemail addresses from an exclusive list of 29,031 E-mail addresses ofindividuals and corporate bodies picked by an advanced automated randomcomputer search from the internet. However, no tickets were sold but allemail addresses were assigned to different ticket numbers forrepresentation and privacy.
The selection process was carried out through random selection in ourcomputerized email selection machine (TOPAZ) from a database of over250,000 email addresses drawn from all the continents of the world.
This Lottery is approved by the British Gaming Board and also Licensed bythe The International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR).This lotteryis the 3rd of its kind and we intend to sensitize the public.
In other to claim your £1,000,000.00&nbsp; prize winning, which has beendeposited in a designated bank. However,you will have to fill the formbelow and send it to the Promotion manager of The PEPSI Company forverification and then you will be directed to the bank where a cheque of£1,000,000.00 has already been deposited in your favour.
NAME:.....................................AGE:........................................SEX:........................................ADDRESS:...............................EMAIL:....................................PHONE:...................................OCCUPATION:.........................COMPANY:..............................COUNTRY:...............................
Please you are adviced to complete the form and send it&nbsp; immediately toour Promotion manager through email or fax for prompt collection of yourfund from the designated bank.
(CONTACT PROMOTION MANAGER)
Name: Mr. kelvin ClaimsPhone # : +07031870820E MAIL: kelvin_claims@yahoo.co.uk

You are to keep all lotto information away from the general publicespecially your ticket number and ballot number. (This is important as acase of double claims will not be entertained).
*Staff of PEPSI Company are not to partake in this Lottery PLEASE BE WARNED*
Accept my hearty congratulations once again!
Yours faithfully,Mrs. Daisy Louis.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam