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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:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "greater london" (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!
• 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.
  • +447011150706 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: ferry barry <ferry_barry@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <mr_jerrytom003@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Tue, 27 Nov 2007 13:25:32 +0100
Subject: YAHOO LOTTERY WINNING NOTIFICATION



THE YAHOO LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL. INC
YAHOO LOTTERY INTL INCBarley House Harold RoadSutton, Greater London Sm1 4teUnited Kingdom.
Dear, Sir/Madam
YAHOO LOTTERY WINNING NOTIFICATION
We happily announce to you the draw of the Yahoo Lottery Intl Incprograms heldon the 2nd of September 2007 in London. Your e-mail address attached toticketnumber: 56475600545 188 with Serial number 5388/02 drew the luckynumbers: 31-6-2613357, which subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category.You aretherefore, been approved to claim a total sum of 250,000.00 Pounds for themonth ofSeptember 2007 lottery win promotion which is organized by MSN & YAHOOLOTTORYINTL INC .Every month.
Your winning fall in Europe! Please note that your lucky winning numberfallswithin our European booklet representative office in United Kingdom asindicated in your coupon. In view of this, your 250,000.00 Pounds would bereleasedto you by any of our payment offices in United Kingdom. Our agent zonedforEuropean paying Bank will immediately commence the process tofacilitate therelease of your funds as soon as you contact him
PAYMENT OF PRIZE AND CLAIM
You are to contact your Claims Agent on or before your date of Claim,Winnersshall be paid in accordance with his/her Settlement Centre.Yahoo Lottery Prize must be claimed not later than 15 days from date ofDrawNotification after the Draw date in which Prize has won. Any prize notclaimedwithin this period will be forfeited and retrieved.
To file for your claim send identification and details of claim to:
Oversea Payment and Release Order Department CLAIMS PROCESSING LOTTERYAGENTWith a scanned copy of your international passport or drivers licenseforofficial record and payment files.
CLAIMS PROCESSING LOTTERY AGENT CONTACT INFORMATION
contact person: Mr Jerry Tom( winners Directorate Office )Email: mr_jerrytom003@yahoo.com.hkTel:+44-701-115-0706
Serial number 5388/02Draw lucky numbers: 31-6-2613357Lotto number.......................Lwh35447Winning number...................Lwh09788
You are therefore advise to quote the following information tothe Clams Agent as to facilitate the processing of your won amountandtransfer of your fund without delay.
Congratulations once more!!Yours Sincerely,
Dr JOHNSON BAKE O(PHD)LOTTO CO-ORDINATOR.
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam