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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• 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.
  • +447031823778 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• 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.
  • revjamessmith_15@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: YVONNE BUSTER <jaredspokane@msn.com>
Reply-To: <revjamessmith_15@yahoo.fr>
Date: Mon, 26 May 2008 04:19:41 -0700
Subject: Congratulations You Have Won !!!













SHELL LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL. UN-CLAIMED DEPARTMENT.CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER.WORLD LOTTERY.Ref: SHL/9420X2/68Batch: 074/05/ZY369.AWARD NOTIFICATION FINAL NOTICE.ATTENTION: LUCKY WINNERI AM MR.SAM PETER, the prize director representing the Shell International Lottery Corporation's Un-Claimed Department. On October 20th, 2007 at approximately 3:45pm, I tried contacting you, but unfortunately was unable to get a hold of you. The main reason for electronically mailing you this letter is to inform you of the reason for my call. Every year we receive over 5,000 entry forms from different lottery players from around the world. Precisely speaking, I was just looking at our network to find out that you were selected as a prize winner on November 24th, 2007 and you havn't claimed your winnings, for the sum of US US$1,000,000.00 . Usually when a winner doesn't claim their money there should be a note that says why the winner has not claimed their money, and the client file will be closed. So I am mailing in regards to know why you have not made any effort to claim your money. You have US$1,000,000.00 sitting here, wait ing for you. I dont know why somebody will wait that long to claim their money?? To elaborate more, this draw was held in Australia , where our head office is located. Moreover, if we did not hear from you within 3 weeks from the day this letter was sent, your file will close and you will no longer be able to claim your winnings. Our main payment office is located in United Kingdom . This is where you will be receiving your amount of winnings US$1,000,000.00 DOLLARS from. Nevertheless, according to the federal and international law concerning the personal collection of prize winnings, your bonding fees, broker fees, and tarrif fees, have already been deducted from your winnings. So congratulations once again. For more information concerning your winnings, please contact your Claims Agent Rev James Smith using:

Email:revjamessmith_15@yahoo.fr
Phone: +44 703 182 3778



When is a better time to get a hold of you. Due to security precautions, we advise that you keep your winning information confidential until your claim has been processed and you have received your certified bank cheque of US$1,000,000.00 paid out to you. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some participants.NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your reference and Lot numbers in every correspondence with your agent. Furthermore, should there be any change of your address, do inform your claim agent as soon as possible. Congratulations once again from all members of our staff and thank you for being a part of our promotional program.Congratulations from me and members of staff of THE INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY.Yours faithfully,Mr Sam PeterOnline coordinator for THE INTERNATIONAL LOTTERYSweepstakes International Program.Confidentiality Notice:Please note that this email, and any files that may be attached to it,is/are confidential and is/are intended for the sole use of the individual(s) or entity(ies) to which it/they is/are addressed. Any use,distribution,copying or disclosure by any other person or entity is strictly prohibited under applicable law(s). If you received this email in error,please notify the sender by return email and delete the original message (making sure it is also deleted from the Deleted Items folder of your mail client). Opinions, conclusions and other information in this message t hat do not relate to official business of INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY and insurance shall be understood to be neither given nor endorsed by INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY finance and insurance when addressed to comet finance and insurance clients; and any information contained in this email is subject to the terms and conditions of the governing client's contract(s).
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam