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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:
  • "million united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
• 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.
  • +447031948978 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• 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.
  • jumbolottopromo256@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: Smith Johnson <kent_fiduciaryagent@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sun, 21 Jan 2007 07:30:38 -0800 (PST)
Subject: NEW YEAR RESOLUTION


Chaucer House
Churchill gardens
London, SW1V 3DW United Kingdom.
16th Floor SABC Radio Park Building Henley Road
Auckland Park, ZA-2006 Johannesburg.
Ref: win/oct102/05
Batch:05/10/wa34

We happily announce to you the draw of the Winners Lottery Promo
International programs held on the 20th of January 2007 in Kumasi, Ghana
Your email address attached to ticket number :1456 with serial number
:5555/05 drew the lucky number 3-1-174, which subsequently won you the
lottery in the first category. You have therefore been approved to
claim a total sum of $2,000,000.00 (Two million United States Dollars)
in cash credited to file wlp/23456/05. This is from a total cash prize
of $60,000,000 Dollars,shared amongst the first thirty (30)
lucky winners in this category.
In view of this,your $2,000,000.00 (Two million United States Dollars) would be released to you by our redemption centers in Africa
and Europe.
Our agents will immediately commence the process to facilitate the
release of your funds as soon as you contact him.
All participants were selected randomly from World wide Website through
computer ballot system extracted from over 1,000,000 companies and
individuals
This promotion takes place annually for security reasons you are
advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claims
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 by some unscrupulous elements. Please
be warned.
To file your claims, please contact our agent:
Mr harry henderson
Universal Trust Inc.
Email: jumbolottopromo256@yahoo.co.uk
Tel:+44-703-194-8978
Fax:+44-707-502-0586

Provide him with the information below:
1.Full Name:
2.Full Address:
3.Occupation:
4.Age:
5.Nationality:
6.Country Of Residence:
7.Telephone Number:
8.Fax Number:
9.Ticket Number(above):
10.Reference Number(above):
11.Batch Number(above):
12.Amount Won(above):
For due processing and remittance of your prize money.
Note that all winning must be claimed not later than
10days of receiving this notification. After this date
all unclaimed, funds will be included in the next stake.
To avoid unnecessary delay and complications, Please
quote your reference/batch numbers in any
correspondences with us or our designated agent.
Congratulations once more from all members and
staffs of this program!!!

Congratulations once more from our members of staff
and thank you for being part of our promotional program.
Note: Anybody under the age of 20 is automatically
disqualified.

Sincerely,
Mrs Harlin Benwick,
Public Relations Officer



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam