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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "uk national lottery" (can only win this lottery if you bought a ticket)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "claims office" (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)
  • ",500,000" (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)
• 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.
  • +447045782319 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: Krista Singleton <ksingleton@walsh.edu>
Date: Sat, 5 Jul 2008 19:33:27 -0400
Subject: The result of our computer draw (1152)



Dear Lucky Winner,
We are pleased to notify you of the draw (1152) of the UK NATIONAL
LOTTERY, Online Sweepstakes International Lottery Program held on 25th
Sat, 09 April 2008 .
Participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from
a pool of over 25,000,000 Emails of distinguished professionals drawn
from Europe, America, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Middle-East, parts
of Africa, and North & South America as part of our international
promotions programme conducted annually to encourage prospective
overseas
entries.
The result of our computer draw (1152) selected your email address
attached to e-ticket number: 56475600545 188 with Serial number 5368/02
drew the lucky numbers: 15. 25. 29. 35. 39. 40 (Bonus no.11), which
subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category i.e. match 5 plus
bonus.
You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of £2,500,000.00
(Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Pounds Sterling) in cash credited
to file BNKJ/1740161514/03.
Your prize award has been insured in your name and is ready for claims.
United Kingdom Lottery Fiduciary
Contact Person: Robert Kings
Email:r.kings40@live.com
Tel: +44-704-578-2319
Tel: +44-704-572-3270
Fax: +44-709-288-6194
In line with the governing rules of claim, you are requested to furnish
Your Claim Agent With the following information:
1. Full name...........
2. Address............
3. Occupation............
4. Tel/Fax............
5. Country............
Do understand that, this is done to ensure that, we are dealing with
the rightful Winner in this 2nd category to avoid double claiming by
non
winners.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
John W. Smith.
Note: All further correspondence should be forwarded to your claims
officer via this email address:r.kings40@live.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam