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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:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "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.
  • wei_duo_china02@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "MRS.TAD KAWASAKI" <tad_kawasaki08@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 10 Jan 2007 00:11:50 +0000
Subject: PRIZE AWARD NOTIFICATION

HERITAGE EMAIL PROMOTION INTERNATIONAL
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS SECTION
PRIZE AWARD NOTIFICATION,

We are pleased to inform you of the announcement made on 2nd JANUARY, 2007, of winners of the HERITAGE EMAIL LOTTO PROMOTION.

As part of our promotional draws, participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 2,500,000 email addresses of individuals and companies from all parts of the world as part of our electronic business Promotions Program.

Note that you/your email address qualified for the draw as a result of your visiting various websites we are running the e-business promotions for.You/your company email address, attached to ticket number 896-781-6767, with serial number 374-18 drew the lucky numbers 2, 5, 9, 22, 31, 33 and Bonus number 15 and consequently you won in the second category of the CHINA FORTUNE LOTTO DRAW.

Your Winning Ticket Number. 896-781-6767
Your Serial Number. 374-18
Your lucky draw Numbers are. 2, 5, 9, 22, 31, 33 Bonus Number 15
Your INSURANCE Number: FLD674/893S/GMSA
You have therefore been approved of for the payment of the sum of
US$800,000,00 in cash, which is the winning amount for the Second category winners. This is from the total prize money of US$3,450,000.00 shared among the international winners in the Second category.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Please be informed that your CHEQUE of the sum of US$800,000.00 is now with NATIONAL TRUSTEE FINANCE SECURITIES Company insured with your email address, which won you this prize, therefore you should contact (NATIONAL TRUSTEE) your agent and give them your full names so that they will re-insure your CHEQUE under your full names.

To begin your claim, please call your claims agent immediately:

DR .Wei Duo
FOREIGN SERVICES MANAGER,
NATIONAL TRUSTEE FINANCE SECURITIES
PLAZA DE MAR ZHENG, GUANGZHOU, CHINA
EMAIL: wei_duo_china02@yahoo.com

NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your reference and batch numbers and other information provided above in every one of your correspondences with your claims agent.

Congratulations! once again from all our staff and thank you for being part of our promotions program.

Sincerely,
MRS.TAD KAWASAKI
VICE PRESIDENT INT.PROMOTIONS

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam