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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:
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• 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: "Mr. Alex Casey Casey" <mralexcasey_claimsagent@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2007 19:57:39 +0100 (BST)
Subject: RE:CONFISCATION NOTICE OF YOUR WINNINGS


Attn: Mr. Rowland Scholz,

I acknowledge the receipt of your email. I hereby want to bring to your notice that we do not have any relationship with EEC BANK or what soever, and I have adviced you several times concerning your winnings that it is genuine and legitimate, However I will like you to note also that you emmerged a winner through our yearly email promotion.

The lottery firm E-mail Prize Award online draws was conducted by a random selection of email addresses from an exclusive list of E-mail addresses of individuals and corporate bodies picked by an advanced automated random computer search from the internet.

Furthermore, I will also like you to know that no tickets were sold but all email addresses were assigned to different ticket numbers for representation and privacy. The Lottery E-mail Online Promo is to encourage our prominent Microsoft Internet Explorer users all over the world, and for the Continues use of E-mail, and also to promote Microsoft Products and Services.

Mr. Rowland, you should note that you are waisting time in claiming your winnings which is very dangerous, because it might lead to the confiscation and cancellation of your winning Price. Be adviced to go ahead and make the payment for the delivery of the original copy of your cheque, certificate and other covering documents, So that your winnings will be delivered to you within 24hours without hitch. You must understand that this lottery firm is a reputable International company that cannot be involved in FRAUD/SCAM

Do have a most wonderful day ahead as I await your prompt response in anticipation.

Sincerely,
Mr. Alex Casey
Claims Dept


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam