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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• 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.

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:
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • ",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)
  • "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned 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!
• 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.
  • +2348082799144 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • smith07.w@gmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: williams smith <williams_zonal003@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 27 Nov 2007 08:35:28 +0100
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION.



Customer ServiceConnecticut Lottery Corporation34 Creek Road VICTORIA ISLAND LAGOS NIGERIA,CT06051 BATCH No-W2861137/STSERIAL No - 0016827866217WINNING NOTIFICATION: We happily announce to you the draw of the Connecticut Lottery International programs organised by the united state of America held on the 25th of September 2007 in NIGERIA. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: 644 79543465 B44 has subsequently won you the lottery in the 3rd category. you are a winner of the International Connecticut Lottery Corporation where winners are listed after payment. You have therefore been approved for a lump sum payout of uS$3,500,000.00 in cash credited to file REF No.: PLI/4080318306/04. This is from total prize money of US$3,500,000.00 shared among the six(10) international winners in the category C.Ref Number of Connecticut Lottery sweepstake draws - 07 ,18 , 37 , 39 , 46 , 49 , 56From over 1000000 Email of individuals and company extracted through the world wide web via computer ballot system your Email - attached to ticket number 64479543465B44 with Connecticut Lottery sweep stake draw ref number 07 ,18 , 37 , 41 , 46 , 48 , 56 . Scored 5 over 7 and won in the third category. This promotion takes place only for this season before play coupon begins.In view of this, your US$3,500,000.00 (Three Million Five Hundred United States Dollars) would be released to you by our security firm in NIGERIA. Our NIGERIA agent will immediately commence the proccess to facilitate the release of your funds as soon as you contact him.Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our America booklet representative office in NIGERIA as indicated in your play coupon. 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 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 NIGERIA payment agent . MR WILLIAM SMITHEmail : smith07.w@gmail.comTel : 011234-1-8529660 or 234-8082799144.To avoid unnecessary delays and complications, you are to contact Mr. William Smith with followings details below:. Your full name, telephone number, contact address , Age and vocation.. Quote your Ticket, Batch,and serial number in any correspondences with us or our designated agent Congratulations, once more from all members and staffs of this program.Thank you for being part of our promotional lottery program.DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL. CONTACT YOUR CLAIM AGENT DIRECTLY.Please Reply To My Alternative Email Adress: smith07.w@gmail.com Best Regards,Mr William Smith.Zonal Coordinator.

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam