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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:
  • "claims director" (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)
  • "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.
  • +447031920807 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: director_5@comcast.net (Yahoo! Mail)
Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:03:48 +0000
Subject: 2008 awards

YAHOO! CORPORATION
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS
REF:YAHOO7/315116127/27
BATCH No:15/623/UK.
Registered Lottery No: 220949


CBS/AP) Microsoft Corporation has bought search engine operator Yahoo
Inc. for $44.6 billion in cash and stock in a move to boost its
competitive edge in the online services market. Microsoft bid $31 per share
for Yahoo, representing a 62 percent premium to Yahoo's closing stock
price, the Corporation hereby announces the conclution of the deal and
the deal could also give lift to the entire technology market. This is
the company’s major milestone to embrace online services. Microsoft
officials noted that Yahoo! Corporation, which has about 75 percent
worldwide market share in the online search business and that the online
advertising industry - which today stands at more than $40 billion - is
forecast to reach $80 billio n in the next three years.

We hereby announce the official notification of the results of the
Yahoo! Financial new year promotions held on the 01/08/2008.
Your e-mail address attached to ticket number 883734657492-5319 with
serial number 7263-267, batch number 8254297137 drew the lucky numbers
14-22-28-37-40-44 which consequently won in the 1st category, you have
therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of £1,000,000.00 (i.e One
Million United Kingdom Pounds) in cash credited to file
REF:YAHOO6/315116127/27. This Lottery is approved and licensed by the International
Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR). Please note that this
Promotional Programmes tagged "Thanks for contributing to our financial Sucess"
was sponsored and organized by the Yahoo! Corporation in view
of the Financial benefits Yahoo! have received from its
numerous custom ers either through adverts, hosting and personal emails. The
reason this lottery was or ganized is to thank the numerous public
including users and non-users of YAHOO! MAIL for the financial benefits THE
YAHOO! CORPORATION have received as a result of their
Patronage last Year.

For processing and remittance of your winnings, you are required to
contact our designated claims director providing him with your detailed
information as listed below;

Contact:
Mr.Anderson Cole
REMMITANCE DIRECTOR
YAHOO! CORPORATIONS UK
44 Moorfields London EC2Y 9AL UNITED KINGDOM
Email: andersoncole_desk@live.com
PHONE NUMBER: +447031920807

APPLICATION FOR PRIZE CLAIM
(Receipt Official Notification Letter)

FULL NAMES*
CONTACT ADDRESS*
COUNTRY*
SEX*
AGE*
OCCUPATION*
TELEPHONE NUMBER*

Once Again Thanks For Contributing To Our Financial Success!!!

Yours Sincerely,
Amilia Hunts
Yahoo! Corporation
Chief Executive Officer.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam