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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
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• 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:

• 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: Mrs.Janet Klaus <mrsjanetklaus@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 20 Nov 2006 13:24:04 +0100
Subject: Important Message!


Dearly,

With due honour and respect I write unbehalf of our Corporation to inform you that your email address was among one of the lucky addresses approved by Microsoft Annual Lottery Scheme that is nominated for an award of US$4.5 million dollars as part of a program designed privately to encourage internet use and enhance more public awareness in terms of the state of our world today.
As a matter of fact,I was nominated to stand as your agent and prepare your file which consist of all your datas to avoid double claim and protect impersonation.Before i proceed further,let me start first by introducing myself,my name is Eng.Jacob Shaman,a professor in computer engineering,i work for Microsoft Corporation Int'l, and have been appointed to investigate and submit your files back to our headquarters to proceed with the claim of your funds as a winner.I was called upon from the Middle East with numerous number of clients to handle in regards to this program.
Therefore,be informed that this is strictly a legitimate program as such we advice that you adhere strictly to our terms and services to avoid publicity until your funds is wired into your choosen account.For now i want you to reply back in confirmation.To file for your claim, please contact our fiduciary agent via email:jacshaman@luxmail.com or tel:+4916092220690 with the following vital information:
Full Names:...................................................................
Physical Address:......................................................
Nationality:............................... City............................

Profession:...................................................................
Company...................................................
Age:...............................................................................
Sex:..............................................................................
Marital status:..........................................................
Your email address..................................................
Amount won:............................................................
Phone number{land/mobile}:............................
With the above information we can commence the process of your funds remittance.
For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claim is processed and your money remitted to you in whatever manner you deem 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!!

Once again congratulations from the entire staff of the Microsoft Corporation Int'l.

Warm regards,
Mrs.Janet Kurt.
Online cordinator for Microsoft Int'l.Germany
COPYRIGHT © 2006 ALL RIGHT RESERVED

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam