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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• 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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• 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!
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • +447024037441 (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.
  • moorejohnsonoo1@yahoo.co.uk
  • wilsonbarr_paulwilson_55@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: "moore " <moore_johnson04@rediffmail.com>
Date: 3 Jul 2007 07:19:13 -0000
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR WIN!


BIG LOTTERY PROGRAME / NATIONAL LOTTERY PROMO 2007 WORLDWIDE.
Street Address:BIG LOTTERY PROGRAMEP O Box 1010 Liverpool,L70 1NL UNITED KINGDOM(Customer Services)&nbsp;Tel:+447024037441&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;Email address:&nbsp;moorejohnsonoo1@yahoo.co.uk&nbsp;CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR WIN! &nbsp;Hello!Congratulations! It delights me to bring to your notice good news that you may not have heard of. The fact is that you are a lucky winner of a lottery draw programme held on 8th Febuary 2007. All participant were selected through a computer balloting system drawn from Nine hundred thousand E-mail addresses from Canada, Australia, United States, Asia, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Oceania as part of our international promotions program which is conducted annually. The lottery draws were held in a free and fair conduct done on random base .We emerged you a winner among others.The total amount you have won is&nbsp; one Million U.S. Dollars ($1,000,000.00) precisely.Further more your details (e-mail address) falls within our Europeanrepresentative office in United Kingdom, as indicated in your play coupon and your prize of US$1,000,000.00 will be released to you from this regional branch office in United Kingdom or any related payment centers of your choice.
We hope with part of your prize, you will participate in our end ofyear high stakes for US$1.3 Billion international draw.
HOW TO CLAIM YOUR WON PRIZE&nbsp;However, to claim your prize, you need to be acquainted with some policies that govern the lottery programme. You will also receive a lottery winner’s form (as soon as you Respond to this mail by sending your particulars below to our financial claim agent) with Which you are expected to provide the necessary details we need about you to file up your Name for payment. You are required to reply to this email within 48 hours after receipt of This e-mail or forfeit the chance to claim your prize.&nbsp;Note: All winnings must be claimed 19th Febuary 2007;otherwise all funds will be returned as Unclaimed and eventually donated to charity. A document that highlights the policies and methods of payment will be delivered to you pending your reply to this e-mail. After this point, you will be issued the award certificate and the bank cheque with which you can retrieve your money.Once again, we say Congratulations on your win! We hope that you make the best of this opportunity.NB: Below is your particulars of winning which you are to send to our financial claiming agent to file your name for payment in person of Barrister, Paul Wilsonbarr_paulwilson_55@yahoo.co.uk&nbsp;Lucky numbers as follows 5-13-33-37-42 bonus number 17Ticket Number: 489-38/190Lottery Programme: Big-Lottery ProgrammeDate Drawn: 8th Febuary 2007&nbsp;For securities reasons, we advice all winners to keep this information confidential until your claim is process and your prize released to you due to much double claiming we encountered last season. This is part of our securities protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted taking advantage of this program of non-participant and unofficial personnel&nbsp;Thank you,&nbsp;Dr, MOORE JOHNSON

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam