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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:
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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")
  • "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 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.
  • mr_williams_jones2008@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • 3amr_williams_jones2008@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "shell international lotto" <shell_international_lotto1@me.by>
Reply-To: mr_williams_jones2008@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2008 02:53:57 -0700
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!


*[image: Shell logo]*
**
*SHELL LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL. *
*UN-CLAIMED DEPARTMENT.
CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER.
WORLD LOTTERY.
Ref: SHL/9420X2/68
Batch: 074/05/ZY369.
DATE:10th July, 2008.*

**

*[image: The National Lottery Logo]*

**

*AWARD NOTIFICATION FINAL NOTICE.

ATTENTION: LUCKY WINNER,

I David Scott, the prize director representing the Shell International
Lottery Corporation's Un-Claimed Department. On June 30th, 2008 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 June 25th, 2008 and you havn't claimed
your winnings, for the sum of 500,000 British Pounds Sterling. 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 500,000 British Pounds Sterling sitting here,
waiting for you. I dont know why somebody will wait that long to claim their
money?? To elaborate more, this draw was held London, 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 London.*
*This is where you will be receiving your amount of winnings 500,000 British
Pounds Sterling 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 me Mr Williams Jones
using:mr_williams_jones2008@yahoo.com<http://uk.mc284.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=using%3Amr_williams_jones2008@yahoo.com>
*
**
*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
500,000 British Pounds Sterling 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 David Scott*


*Online coordinator for THE INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY
Sweepstakes 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 that 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)*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam