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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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.
  • +447031906816 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: MICHAEL LEXINGTON <claimsofficer200@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 23 Jun 2007 15:44:32 +0100 (BST)
Subject: UNCLAIMED LOTTERY PRIZE ( Urgent Response Needed )




Jackpot category winner
Ref: UK/1O32X9/LHM
Batch: 100/BKU10/TYN204

Dear Winner,

Good day to you, I am upon the receipt of your email and the content of it is well understood by me, you are to note that in my last email it was well stated that you are to keep me informed in case should there be any question regards to your winning prize, this is to remaind you that you name is still on our unclaimed winning list, you are therefore advice to notify me due to the delay on your winning that keep your winning so long till this time.

You are therefore advice to keep me noted on what to be done next, for the claims of your winning funds without further delay, your quick response to this email will be highly apprecaited.

Thanks and have a nice weekend.

Best Reagard
Michael Lexington
FIDUCIARY AGENT
PHONE:+447031906816
FAX:+447092882415





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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam