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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:
  • "claims 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!

Fraud email example:

From: JAmes Watson <claimsagent.danielwallace@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2007 14:51:56 +0100 (BST)
Subject: ATTENTION: Sachi Chandrashekharsingam


Hello Sachi Chandrashekharsingam,

I am Mr.Daniel Wallace the claims agent assigned to your case. I wish to Congratulate you on your victory, you are a lucky person to have won this lottery. Your email address is amongst those chosen this quarter from our new java-based software that randomly selects email addresses from the web from which winners are selected. You are required to forward the following details to help facilitate the processing of your claims and certificate which will facilitate the release of your winnings.

1. Full names.
2. Phone number.
3. Fax number.
4. Occupation.
5. Sex.
6. Age.
7. Nationality.
8. Country of residence.

You are advised to forward this information as soon as possible to enable us attend to your winnings. Please note that, once we confirm your information, your payments would be processed and forwarded to the correspondent payment agent who would in turn open communication with you in regards to how you would receive your winnings payment,if you want you can be invited to come and sign for your funds.

Everything was done in such a way that our payments mode would meet the standards set by the Lottery Boards. We have also gone as far as to invite an accounting firm to over see the payments process.

After you have sent down these information, a certificate will be prepared for you. This is to be your proof of winning from this office to the payment center before they release your funds. Be advised that your winnings would be paid to you via payment centre. You are advised to keep your winning numbers secret to avoid unscrupulous elements from taking advantage of the situation. Once again, congratulations.

Regards,
Mr.Daniel Wallace
........................................................................................................................................
This email and its attachments are confidential and intended for the exclusive use of the addressee(s). This email and its attachments may also be privileged or protected by legal rules. If you have received this by mistake please let us know by reply immediately and destroy the email and its attachments without reading, copying or forwarding the contents.


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam