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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:
  • "fiduciary 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.
  • +447045730502 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: British Lottery Claim Department <fudiciarydepartment@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 21 Jun 2007 19:11:42 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: CLAIM DEPARTMENT

Customer Service
440,PRINCE REAGENT LANE
CUSTOM HOUSE LONDON
E163HX .LONDON
Ref: BTL/491OXI/04
Batch: 12/25/0304

Dear Winner
I am PAUL JOHN LOCKETT, the fiduciary agent assigned to your case.
I wish to congratulate you on your victory; you are a lucky person to have won this lottery. You are required to forward the following details to help facilitate the processing of your claim/certificate which will facilitate the release of your winnings.
1. Full names.
2. Residential address.
3. Phone number.
4. Fax number.
5. Occupation.
6. Sex.
7. Age.
8. Nationality.
You are advised to forward these information as soon as possible to enable us attend to your file. Please note that your funds have been deposited safely in a security firm in London, and your information will be forwarded to them before they can release your winnings. After you have sent down these information, a certificate will be couriered to you. This is to be your proof of winning from this office to the security firm before they release your funds. You are advised to keep your winning numbers secret to avoid unscrupulous elements from taking advantage of the situation.

Once again, congratulations.
Yours sincerely,

Mr.PAUL JOHN LOCKETT
TEL:+ 447045730502
FAX:+448704902179


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam