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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.

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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:
  • "british lottery international" (no such lottery exists)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "overseas claims unit" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "million 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)
  • ",500,000" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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.
  • richardlenoxclaimsagent@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Peter Andun <richardlenoxclaimsaent@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sun, 18 Nov 2007 01:38:10 +0100
Subject: BRITISH LOTTERY WINNING NOTIFICATION

This woman just won the lottery in the 1st category and is pictured in her new home in Nice(France). She says"i did not believe at first....." 28 TANFIELD ROAD, CROYDON.LONDON Ref:BTL/491oX1/04 Batch: 12/25/0340   BRITISH LOTTERY WINNING NOTIFICATION   DEAR WINNER, We happily announce to you the draw of the BRITISH Lottery International programs held on the 30,Nov,2007 in England. How ever the result was released on the 16,Oct,2007.    Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: 564 75600545-188 with Serial number 5388/02 drew the lucky numbers: 31-6-26-13-35-7,which subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category.You are therefore, been approved to claim a total sum of £2,500,000.00GBP (Two million, five hundred thousand, Pounds Sterling) in cash credited to file KPC/9080118308/02.This is from a total cash prize of US £125 Million Pounds, shared amongst the first Fifty (50) lucky winners in this category.   Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our European booklet representative office in Europe as indicated in our play coupon. In view of this, your £2,500,000.00GBP (Two million, five hundred thousand,Pounds Sterling) would be released to you by our affiliate bank in London.Our agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your funds to you as soon as you make contact with her. All participants were selected randomly from World Wide Web site through computer draw system and extracted from over 100,000 companies.   This promotion takes place annually. For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claims is processed and your money remitted to you in whatever manner you deem fit to claim your prize. This is a part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some unscrupulous elements. Please be warned.To file for your claim, please contact our fiduciary agent with the below details for processing of your claims.   Overseas Claims Unit British Lottery Paying department Officer Contact Person:MR RICHARD LENOX   Email: richardlenoxclaimsagent@yahoo.co.uk    FILL AND SUBMIT TO THE PAYING OFFICE AGENT FOR YOUR WINNINGS TO BE TRANSFERED TO YOU THROUGH THE NECESSARY MEASURES   1.NAME:     2.SEX :   3.AGE:   4.TEL:   6.ADDRESS:   6.COUNTRY:   7.OCCUPATION:   To avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please quote your reference/batch numbers and Name in any correspondences with us for our  designated agent. Congratulations once more from all members and staffs of this program.Thank you for  being part of our promotional lottery program. Sincerely,                                                        Mr. Phill Benson                       ZONAL ONLINE CO-ORDINATOR

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam