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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:

• 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")
• 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.
  • +447045785524 (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.
  • pamcarlson406@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Monica Robert" <onlinesms2@mailbox.hu>
Reply-To: pamcarlson406@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 10 Jun 2008 06:05:53 -0700
Subject: YOUR WINNING INFORMATION


Ref: 675161724
Batch: 9055490902/188
Winning no:3-11-15-19-22-34/RYKL
Zone no:*A*
Secret Zonal Code number: 406

Good Day! My name is Mrs. Monica Robert the prize announcer representing
Australia International Bonus Promotion. On 6/6/2008, I tried to contact
you, but unfortunately was unable to get hold of you. The main reason for
mailing you this letter is to inform you of the following: For promotional
purposes every year we receive 5,000 luck promotion names (computer
generated) players worldwide.

Going through our network we discovered that you were selected as a prize
winner on 1-6-2008 and you haven't claimed your winnings, for the sum of
$750,000USD .To elaborate more, your lot number drew lucky numbers
(3-11-15-19-22-34/RYKL) which consequently won in the 2nd category, you have
therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of $750,000USD

However, this is a time sensitive exercise, so you have to respond promptly
before your file is closed. Our main payment office is located in Australia
but your lucky winning number falls within our UNITED KINGDOM booklet
representative office in LONDON that is where you will be receiving your
winning. For security purposes and clarity,we advise that you keep your
winning information confidential until your claims have been processed and
your money remitted to you.

This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claims and unwarranted
abuse of this program. Once again, Congratulations to you.! For more
information on how you can claim your prize contacts your payment agent
through this address below:

Name: Mr. Pam Carlson
Email: pamcarlson406@hotmail.com
Zone "A" claim agent.
Secret Zonal Code number: 406
Direct Telephone Number: +44-70-45-78-55-24

Simply certify his office with the following detailed information listed
below to enable him effect the release of your price.

(1)REF NO:
(2)BATCH:
(3)WINNING NO:
(4)YOUR FULL NAME:
(5)FULL RESIDENTIAL CONTACT:
(6)TEL NO/FAX DETAILS:
(7)OFFICIAL AGE:
(8)NATIONALITY:
(9)MARTIAL STATUS:
(10)SEX:
(11)PROFESSIONAL STATUS:
(12)ZONE NO:
(13)SECRET ZONAL CODE NUMBER:

Sincerely,
Mrs. Monica Robert
(The prize announcer representing Australia
International Bonus Promotion)
Copyright (c) 1946-2008 Australia International Bonus Promotion!

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam