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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:

• The following fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "20 craven park, harlesden" (address often used in fake lottery scams)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "certified bank draft" (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!
• 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.
  • +447045725068 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +447011127451 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. David Brown" <claimsagent.david101@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 29 Sep 2007 12:13:16 +0100
Subject: PAYMENT OPTIONS / BANK TRANSFER PROCEDURE


[image: MSN]
[image: Microsoft][image: MSN] * *
*MICROSOFT AWARD TEAM
Microsoft Corporation
20 Craven Park, Harlesden
London NW10, *
** *United Kingdom*

*Ref: BTD/747/07
Batch: 462890CE*


*Dear:* *RAMAKRISHNA PURINI* *,*
**
* **PAYMENT OPTIONS / BANK TRANSFER PROCEDURE *
*
This is in receipt of your mail and required data inclusive. Also the
verification process has been completed. *

*However for your notification, your winnings is not in cash form but in
Certified Bank Draft which has been deposited with the Paying Bank {Unity
Trust Bank Plc.}, This advice complies with the Anti-Fraud policy existing
between Lottery companies and the British Government.
*
**
*Consequently, you have been directed to contact our paying Bank firm by
email with your batch and reference numbers immediately for the transfer
of your winning funds.This transfer will be directed by you online to any of
your local Bank accounts as preferred by you. In this regard, you would
contact the paying Bank without delay for modalities and cost for transfer
of funds to your designated account . **The Microsoft Award Team will not be
liable/pay for any charges that will be associated with the transfer of your
winnings by the paying bank, It will be paid/borne by you. *
**
*Stated below is the bank contact details for immediate transfer*.
*=========================*
*Head Office/Customer Service
Unity Trust Bank Plc
Nine Brindleyplace
Birmingham B1 2HB*
*Email: costumerservice@unitytrustisb.com*
**<http://es.f266.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=info@unitytrustisb.com>
*Phone: +44-701-112-7451*
*=========================*
** *You are hereby directed to make the above contact immediately and inform
them about your winnings and that you want your funds transfer effected as
soon as **possible. Inform me as soon as you contact the bank.*
**
*Congratulations once again from the entire staff of the Microsoft Award
Team.*
* * *MR. DAVID BROWN.*
*MICROSOFT AWARD TEAM.
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 704 572 5068*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam