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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.

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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")
  • "claims agent" (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.
  • +447092875039 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• 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.
  • tobaccoinfoverification@jmail.co.za (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Amiko <info_tabacco01@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: tobaccoinfoverification@jmail.co.za
Date: Tue, 16 Sep 2008 16:40:10 +0200
Subject: AWARD' --You Have 1 New Message ----

BRITISH TOBACCO MEGA JACKPOT PROMOTION UNITED KINGDOM
406 Bury New Rd., Whitefield,
Manchester M457SXU.K.
BATCH NUMBER:MFI/07/APA-43658
REFERENCE NUMBER: 2008234522
AWARD WINNING NO: 4


ELECTRONIC MAIL AWARD PROMOTION.;
We are pleased to inform you that you are one of the selected winners of the BRITISH TOBACCO MEGA JACKPOT PROMOTION held on 13th september 2008. Your email address attached to ticket number 9901-0148-790-698, with serial number 6109-17 drew the lucky numbers 990-11-815-37-10-73; the lottery
was categorized into four zonal (Africa, America, Europe and Asia) stages. Consequently you have won the lottery in the 2nd category. You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of (FIVE MILLION) US dollars ($5,000,000.00USD)Credited to file REFERENCE NUMBER: 2008234522 BATCH NUMBER:MFI/07/APA-43658.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 your money remitted to your account. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming or unscrupulous acts by participants of this program.
Please contact the clearing house (through your claims agent only) the body assigned with the verification of all emergent winner. Therefore all protocols laid down by them must be followed to facilitate your claims; CONTACT Details:
Mr. ALBERT GREGORY
Email; tobaccoinfoverification@jmail.co.za
FAX;+(44)7092875039

20 Lausanne Road London,
SW2 3JB ENGLAND.U.K
You to provide the claim agent with the under listed information as soon as possible:1. NAME IN FULL:.......2. ADDRESS:.....................................3. NATIONALITY:.................................4. AGE:.........................................5. OCCUPATION:..................................6. PHONE/FAX:...................................7.COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE..........................
For processing and remittance of your prize money to a designated account of your choice.Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later than the 20th September ,2008.All funds not claimed on or before the fixed date will be returned as unclaimed. NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications,please remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in all correspondences with this office. Furthermore, should there be any change of your address, do inform us as soon as possible Congratulations again from all our staffs and thank you for being part of our Promotions program. Sincerely,
KAREN PETERSON.
Co-coordinator.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam