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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!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• 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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "claims office" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • ",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.
  • +447006085679 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: Abigal Toro <abigaltoro_nig@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:37:32 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS HAS WON.


AWARD NOTIFICATION.
 
Tel/Fax: +44-7006-085-679
 
Send your reply by e-mail and by fax.
 
We are pleased to inform you of the announcement today of winners of the CFC LONDON LOTTERY PROMOTIONS Your e-mail address attached to ticket number 013-2316-2004-477, with serial number A025-09 drew the lucky numbers 37-13-34-85-56-42, and consequently won in category C.
 
You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of US$1,500,000.00 in cash credited to file REF NO. CFCLP/67-B773524441.This is from total prize money of US$22,500,000.00 shared among the fifteen (15)international winners.
 
All participating e-mail addresses were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 300,000.00 e-mail addresses from Australia, New Zealand, America, Asia, Europe,USA and North America as part our International Promotions Program, which is conducted annually in which your e-mail address won in category C. CONGRATULATIONS!
 
Your fund is now deposited with a payment centre and insured.Due to the mix up of some numbers and names,we ask that you keep this award strictly from public notice until your claim has been processed and you claim your winning successfully.
 
NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your reference number in every one of your mails to us.
 
All we want from you are as follows:
 
(1) Your name.
(2) Your telephone and fax numbers.
(3) Your contact address.
(4) Your age.
 
Furthermore, should there be any change of your address,do inform your claims officer as soon as possible.
 
Congratulations again from all our staff and thank you for being part of our promotions program.
 
Send your reply by e-mail and also by fax.
 
We expect your reply so as to proceed further.
 
Sincerely, 
 
Mrs.Abigal Toro.
 
N.B. Any breach of confidentiality on the part of the winners will result to disqualification.

Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam