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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:
  • "u.k " (this email uses bad English)
• 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.
  • +447045735084 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr Ben Seal Cole" <ben_s_cole49912@gazeta.pl>
Reply-To: mrbensealcole007@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:53:24 +0100
Subject: DIRECTOR WORLD DEBT RECONCILIATION NOTIFICATION COMMITTEE U.K


MR. BEN SEAL COLE.
Director World Debt Reconciliation Committee Notification U.K
Tel:+44 70457 35084

We are pleased to inform you that We are World Debt
Reconciliation Committee newly set up by The
International Bank For Reconciliation And Development
(WORLD BANK) And the International Monetary Fund
(IMF)based on series of petitions we received from
International Bodies such as Cooperate Bodies and Non
Governmental Organization (NGO) on the inability of
some Government of different countries in the World,
Commercial banks and World Lottery Organization to
settle their clients Contract debt, Inheritance Fund
and Winning prize fund.

After an extensive close door meeting between the
Board of Directors of WORLD BANK AND INTERNATIONAL
MONETARY FUND), It was resolved and agreed upon that
this body-WORLD INTERNATIONAL DEBT Reconciliation
Committee will work extensively to ensurethat your
Contract Payment, Your Inheritance and Lottery
Winning prize fund will be paid without any hitch and
delay through the World Bank and IMF Insurance body.

1. You are strictly advised to inform us as your agent
any of the above mentioned Debt you are being owed any
where in the world. The contract Amount and Country
which the contract was executed.

2. The Bank name and location where your Inheritance
Fund are tied up and amount due to you.

3, Your Winning Prize lottery Company and the amount
won.

Note that on receipt of your complaints and list of
debt due for payment, your Fund will be called back
from its verious point where it has been tied up by
World Bank and IMF and your payment will be arranged
and effected based on your choice of payment.

Urgently furnish this Office with your Name and
contact information to enable us open up communication
with you regarding the remittances of your
payment.

Thanks.

Yours Faithfully,

MR. BEN SEAL COLE.
Tel:+44 70457 35084

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam