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

Fraud email example:

From: "BRITISH TOBACCO ONLINE PROMOTIONS" <WEBDNXIEV401@prodigy.net>
Date: Thu, 25 Jan 2007 08:28:50 -0800
Subject: PERSONAL WINNING NOTIFICATION

BRITISH TOBACCO COMPANY UNITED KINGDOM
406 Bury New Rd., Whitefield, Manchester M457SX U.K

REF NO: MELI-T/17-F044262312
Batch No. 13/FFP/LDL/037.

Lucky Winner;
TICKET NUMBER 9901-0148-790-691
SERIAL NUMBER 6109-17

OFFICIAL PRIZE NOTIFICATION

This is to inform you that you have been selected for
a cash prize of $1,500,000.00 ( one million Five
Hundred Thousand United States Dollars)in the
International programs held on the 25TH OF JANUARY
2007 in London Uk. The selection process was carried
out through random selection in our computerized
email selection system(s) from a database of over
250,000 email addresses drawn from all the continents
of the world.The British Tobacco Lottery is approved
by the British Gaming Board and also Licensed by The
International Association of Gaming Regulators
(IAGR). To begin the processing of your prize you are
to contact our executive claims officer through the
contact stated below with your personal informations
for verification purpose:

Mr. ALBERT GREGORY.
Fiduciary Agent/Payment Officer.
20 Lausanne Road London, SW2 3JB ENGLAND.U.K
E-mail: processclaims_albertgregory_btc@yahoo.co.uk

1.Name in full:.............................
2.Address:..................................
3.Nationality:..............................
4.Age:......................................
5.Occupation:...............................
6.Phone/Fax:................................
7.Present Country:..........................

Winners are advised to keep their winning
details/informations safe from the public to avoid
fraudulent claims.*Winners under the age of 18 are
automatically disqualified.*Staff of the British
Tobacco Company are not allowed to partake in this
Lottery.

KAREN PETERSON.
Co-coordinator.
AGENT.================================================

NOTE: Do not reply this mail. You are to contact your
claims immediately by email.This promo is all about
emails, be aware.

WARNING!!!
WARNING!!!
WARNING!!!

ANY MAIL RECIEVED OF THIS SUCH WITH ANY OTHER TRADE
MARK OR ADDRESS SHOULD BE FOWARDED TO YOUR CLAIMS
AGENT IMMEDIATELY; THIS WILL HELP US TO FIGHT SCAM
AND LOTTERY IMPOSTERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ANTICIPATED
CO-OPERATION.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam