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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!
  
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• 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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • " lotto international " (no such lottery exists)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "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)
  • ",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)
• 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 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.
  • wilcoxdesk2@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: infoupdate@promo.org
Reply-To: wilcoxdesk2@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2007 20:58:26 -0400
Subject: YOUR EMAIL WAS SELECTED!!!

FREE AWARD DEPT.
REG: 7-5569-0153-101
16 Broad Street,
Woolich, Middle Essex
London. United Kingdom.

RESULTS FOR CATEGORY "A" DRAWS
WINNING NOTIFICATION
This is to notify you of the release of the lottery winning,
Held on the 15th of August 2007. By free lotto international
One of the world most reputable online lottery organizations.
Due to the mix up of numbers, the results were released on
The 21st of August. Your e-mail address attached to ticket
Number: 703218509 under agent ID: 10 and lucky ball number,
This subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category.


Lucky Ball Numbers
11---13---26---34---44---48---02

You have therefore been qualified for a lump sum payout of
£5,000,000.00(Five Million British Pounds) in cash in your favor,
As the soul beneficiary the prize has been insured with a
Hard cover INSURANCE POLICY called the IRREVOCABLE GURANTY BOUND.
That makes the prize NON-DEDUCTABLE. Due to mix up of some names
And winning numbers, we advice all winners to keep this information
Confidential from the public until your claim has been processed,
And your prize released to you. This is part of our security protocol
To avoid online impersonation and double claiming of prizes.

To redeem your prize instantly, you are to contact your lottery agent
Mr Williams Wilcox
Contacts:
EMAIL:wilcoxdesk2@yahoo.com.hk
Warning: All winners are to claim their winning prize in not later
Than 2 weeks (14 days) of their winning notification.
And we are very much aware of the fraudulent lottery notification
Furthermore, should there be any change of address do inform
Our agent as soon as possible.


NOTE: You can come to our UK head office to claim your prize personally at:
FREE AWARD DEPT.
16 Broad Street,
Woolich, Middle Essex
London United Kingdom.


You’re sincerely,
Mr., George Peterson,
Public Relations Officer.

--

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam