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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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "claims office" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "hundred thousand great british 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)
• 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: infotcl015@comcast.net (Toyota Car Promotion)
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2008 23:50:12 +0000
Subject: Toyota Car Lottery 2008: You Won:!!!

This is to inform you that have been selected for a cash prize of
£6,000.00 (Six Hundred Thousand Great British Pounds) And a Brand New
Toyota Car International programs held on the 13th Febuary 2008 in
the
London UK.

The selection process was carried out through random selection in our
computerized email selection system(ess) from a database of over
250,000
email addresses drawn from all the continents of the world.

To begin the processing of your prize award you are to contact your
claims officer through our accredited Prize Transfer agents via e-mail
as
stated below:

Mr. Parley Paulson
Email: parleypaulsonclaimsdept@live.com


When contacting him, please provide him with your secret Pin Code
TY7448500 and your Reference Number 799BV90.You are also advised to
provide
him with the under listed information as soon as possible, claims
Requirements:

1.Name in full:
2.Home Address:
3.Age:
4.Occupation:
5.Phone Number:
6Present Country:
7.Sex:

If you do not contact your claims agent within 5 working days of this
notification, your winnings would be revoked. Winners are advised to
keep their winning details/information from the public to avoid
fraudulent claim (IMPORTANT) pending the transfer/claim by Winner.
Accept my
hearty congratulations once again!

Regards
Mr. Harry Allen
Lottery Director

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam