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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:
  • "deadline" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
• 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.
  • +447031923191 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: Brent Elton <brentelton5@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Sun, 17 Dec 2006 19:46:16 +0800 (CST)
Subject: REQUIRED INFORMATION TO EFFECT PAYMENT


REQUIRED INFORMATION TO EFFECT PAYMENT:

Good day to you,
We acknowlege the receipt of your email.
Congratulations once more from the members
of staff of UK NATIONAL LOTTERY PROMOTION.
This lottery was a conjoined effort of Microsoft
international and the United Nations under the
auspices of UK NATIONAL LOTTERY PROMOTIONS.
This lottery is aimed at promoting world peace and the
use of internet across the world. Participants were
drawn randomly from the internet upon which a raffle
draw was conducted and lucky winners emerged fortuitously.
To facilitate the swift procurement of your winning,
you are to fill out the required information and
return it within 24-72hrs.
This will enhance the verification and subsequent
approval of your payment. The deadline set for the
collection of winning is ebbing ever so close;
hence you are to act accordingly to instruction
stated herein.It is imperative that you keep this
winning confidential and surreptitious to avoid
any one other than yourself from laying claim to these monies.
UK NATIONAL LOTTERY reserves the right to decline
payment/transfer if irregularities occur. Please
note that this Verification process usually
takes between 24-72 hours, depending on how swiftly
you fill out and return the details below. Upon
completion of this Verification Process/Screening, you
would be contacted by us with further details on when
you shall be receiving your funds in your nominated
bank account. requested information in the format
below:

PERSONAL INFORMATION

FIRST NAME============
LAST NAME=============
MARITAL STATUS========
AGE===================
SEX===================
COUNTRY===============
NATIONALITY===========
OCCUPATION============
ADDRESS===============
TELEPHONE NO==========
FAX NO================

WINNING INFORMATION

REF NUMBER============
BATCH NUMBER==========
TICKET NUMBER=========
AMOUNT WON============

YOUR PRIZE WILL BE WIRED TO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT.
Congratulations once more and good luck.


Regards,
Mr. Brent Elton.
#247 Edgware Road,
London W2 1EY
United Kingdom.
Tel: +44 703 192 3191
+44 703 191 8206
Fax: 44 87 1715 6335

_______________________________________
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http://messenger.yahoo.com.hk

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam