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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:

• 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:
  • "fudiciary" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "million british pounds" (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.
  • +447011140293 (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.
  • agentdept_dcharles54@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: webinfo_107@comcast.net (THE COCA COLA COMPANY)
Date: Thu, 17 May 2007 09:35:39 +0000
Subject: PROMOTION/PRIZE AWARD

THE COCA COLA COMPANY PROMOTION/PRIZE AWARD
DEPT COCA COLA AVENUE
STANFORD BRIDGE LONDON SW1V 3DW
UNITED KINGDOM

COCA COLA COMPANY OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the just concluded annual draws
held by The Coca-Cola Company Worldwide Promotions, your email was
among the 20 ucky winners who won a the sum of one Million British Pounds
(1,000,000.00 GBP) in THE COCA-COLA COMPANY PROMOTIONS However, your email
was attached to ticket number(CC/7PWYZ2006) and ballot number
(CC/BT:12052006/20) The online draws was conducted by a random selection of
email addresses from an exclusive list of 29,031 E-mail addresses of individuals
and coorporate bodies world wide This promo.is approved by the British Gaming
Board and also Licensed by the International Association of Gaming Regulators
(IAGR). In other to claim your prize winnings which is presently deposited with
CLYDESDALE BANK PLC here in the United kingdom, You will be required to fill out
the Claims Verification form
below and send it to the Fiduciary A gent of THE COCA COLA COMPANY for
verification and processing
1.Name............................
2.Address.........................
3.Age...............................
4.Sex...............................
5.Occupation....................
6.Country Of Resident.......
7.Nationality......................
8.Tel/Fax...........................
Mr. Charles Destiny
(Processing Manager)
Tel +447011140293
Email: agentdept_dcharles54@yahoo.co.uk
Please you are adviced to complete the form and send it immediately to our
Fudiciary Agent via email for verification and remittance of your winnings.
Congratulations
Sir Wilford Adams

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam