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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.

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:
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "million british pounds" (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)
  • ",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)
• 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.
  • +27780531122 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • omaradamsadam@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: orgukaward43@superposta.com
Reply-To: info.microsoftboardmembers@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2008 08:54:22 -0700
Subject: BRITISH MICROSOFT E-MAIL SELECT AWARD FROM HEAD OFFICES LONDON


*[image: Microsoft] *
*BRITISH MICROSOFT E-MAIL SELECT AWARD FROM HEAD OFFICES LONDON *
*British Microsoft Award*
*Headquarters: Customer Service *
*33 Yatch Basin Marina Offices,*
*Upontyne Newcastle London*

Dear Winner,

You have just won (One Million British Pounds Sterling) in the Yahoo Cum
Windows Live Prize E-mail Lottery held in London, United Kindom.All
participants were selected through a computer ballot system draw from
Microsoft users from over 20,000.00 companies and 3,000,000.00 individual
email addresses and names from all over the continents of the world
including Africa, Pacific, America, South America, Middle East, Antarctica,
Caribbeans Far East, Europe, Asia

You have just won yourself the sum of (*GBP£1,000,000.00)* in the satellite
software Email Lottery.
Payment Of Prize And Claim
Winners are to be paid in accordance with his/her Settlement Center. This
Prize Award must be claimed in not later than 15 days from date of draw
notification after which unclaimed prizes are cancelled.

*WINNER NO: 4*

*These Are Your Identification Numbers:*
*Batch Number: Mfi/07/Apa-43658*
*Reference Number: 2007234522*

These Numbers Fall Within The South African File. Thus, You Are Requested To
Contact Our Fiduciary Agent In Johannesburg And Send Your Winning
Identification Numbers To Him:

*Contact No: Foreign Transfer Agent*
*Name:Dr Gregory Jude Adams:United Kingdom Microsoft Award Representative
Agent In South Africa*
*Tel: +27 780 531 122*
*E-Mail:omaradamsadam@gmail.com*
*Kindly Send The Following Information To Your Claim Agent To Facilitate The
Release Of Your Fund.*
1*. Full Name.................** 7.
Country........................ *
*2. Telephone Number... 8. Fax
Number.................... *
*3. Date Of Birth.............. 9.
Occupation..................** *
*4. Sex........................ 10.Email
address...............*
*5Contact Address............*
*6Copy Of Your International Passport Or Drivers
License *
*11.Total amount won*
*12.Your Winning serial and ref. no.................*
Once Your Agent Acknowledges Receipt Of This Required Detail, Transfer
Would Commence.

Congratulations!! Once Again.
Yours in service,

*Congratulations!! Once Again.***
*Yours in service*,
[image: (Photograph)]
*Dr.(Mrs)Mercy Martins*

NOTE
You are hereby advised not to disclose the content of this Prize Award until
your money have been remitted to you to avoid disqualification that will
arise from dual claim

*Best Regard,*
*DR. C. Mark Van*

*Lottery Board Director*
*Microsoft**™ takes all reasonable steps to ensure that the information in
this email is accurate.However, the company gives no warranty, whether
express or implied, regarding the content of this email, nor do we accept
liability for any loss or damage which may result from your receipt of this
message. Any decision made by an individual based on information in this
email is the responsibility of that individual alone. You have to note
that the only person that have the right to represent you in your claim
is your appointed Agent only.** * *
Copyright
(c) 1998-2008 The MICROSOFT™ Inc.
<http://mail.yahoo.com/config/login?/_javascript:ol('http://mail.yahoo.com/config/login?/__javascript:olhttp://mail.yahoo.com/config/login?/___javascript:olhttp://www.southall.co.uk/default.asp;;');>
All rights reserved. Terms of Service -
Guideline*
* **
*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam