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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!
  
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• 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:
  • "claims 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.
  • +447024020792 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Cynthia Webb" <cynthiawebb28@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: cynthiawebb1@hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 01 Nov 2006 21:24:19 -0600
Subject: Dear Sean M.

OFFICE OF THE PRIZE ADMINISTRATOR
GREENWICH FOUNDATION INC.
124 STOCKPORT ROAD,
LONGSIGHT, MANCHESTER M60 2DB
UNITED KINGDOM.

DATE: 02/11/2006
FROM: Mrs. Cynthia Webb, Prize Administrator
RE: Notification of winning/Prize Award.


REFERENCE NUMBER: 2006234522
PIN: 6520

Dear Sean M.

Following the results of our annual Award draws concluded on
October 2006, we are pleased to inform you, that your e-mail
address drew lucky numbers 7-14-18-23-31 which won in the
final category. You are one of the 7 selected winners and have
been approved for a lump sum pay out of 845,000.00 Great
Britain Pounds Only.

You are hereby advised to contact your claims agent for immediate
acquintance with guidelines as regards your claim and subsequent
payment of your prize award. Always endeavour to quote your winning
numbers. Kindly find his details below.

Agent Name: Rev. Albert Terry
Tel: +44 702 402 0792
E-mail: revtalbert@walla.com

Accept our sincere congratulations.

Regards,
Mrs. Cynthia Webb
(Results Department)


Copyright © 1999-2006 Greenwich Foundation Inc. All rights
reserved. E&OE. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form
or medium without the expressed written permission of
Greenwich Foundation Inc.
is prohibited.

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam