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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")
• 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.
  • +447045705030 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +448701355854 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Plus info@pnl.uk" <infoplus2@mailbox.hu>
Date: Sun, 25 May 2008 11:13:00 +0100
Subject: Re: SILVER STAKE WINNER- REF. No.- PNL/051/652659967/UK


FROM: PROMOTIONS DEPARTMENT OF PLUS NATIONAL LOTTERY, WINNING NOTICE FOR
SILVER STAKE WINNER- REF. No.- PNL/051/652659967/UK

Plus National Lottery has just concluded its final draws of it's periodical
promotional program and after an automated computer ballot of our
International Promotions Program, only SEVEN winners emerged in this
category. However,every email address selected was accompanied by a
reference and ticket number, after the cyber lotto selection, the below
ticket and reference numbers emerged as one of the lucky winners in the
above category. CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Reference number for your prize is:Ref. No.-PNL/051/652659967/UK Ticket
No.-PNL87867UK

To immediately initiate the processing of your prize claim, please contact
our financial handlers Corporate Finance & Securities,below are the contact
information of their FINANCIAL DIRECTOR; Mr.Mark Darren Financial Director
Corporate Finance & Securities Company, United Kingdom.
Email: mark-darren@live.com
Tel: +44-704-570-5030
Fax: +44-870-135-5854

In your best interest(s), you must initiate contact within two weeks of
receipt of this correspondence.You are also advised to send a copy of this
email,to your claims agent Mr. Mark Darren, when contacting him.

We congratulate you once again and it is our hope that you participate in
any of our international programs in the nearest future.

Sincerely,

Julia Anderson
Promotions Manager
Plus National Lottery,
United Kingdom.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam