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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• 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!
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • +447045702135 (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.
  • mcleanstone59910@hotmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "UK LOTTERY PROMOTIONS" <info@lotto.com>
Reply-To: mcleanstone59910@hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 1 Oct 2008 15:59:44 +0400 (MUT)
Subject: Frontline Lottery Winner!!!




UK LOTTERY PROMOTIONS
CLAIMS/ VERIFICATIONS DEPARTMENT
REF NO: EGS/2251256003/02
BATCH: 121FTG.
UNITED KINGDOM

Dear Lucky Winner,

We are officially informing you of the result of the Frontline Lottery
Winners International programs held on the 1st of October,2008. as
part of our promotional programs for the year 2008.Your e-mail address
attached to ticket number 77007742781005-18721 with reference number
EGS/2251256003/02 drew winning numbers 7-00-71-00-66-49 and credited to
batch number 121FTG, which consequently won in the 3rd category via our
electronic ticket as stated above.You have therefore been approved for
a pay out of 900,000 GBP (NINE HUNDRED THOUSAND POUNDS ONLY).
CONGRATULATIONS!!!.

Information as required by fill the details below.

1.Full Name:.............................
2.Address:..........................
3.Marital Status:.....................
4.Occupation:........................
5.Age:............
6.Sex:.............
7.Telephone:.........................
8.Country Of Residence:..............

CLAIMS AGENT INCHARGE
Barrister.MacLean Stone
Tel:+(44) 704 570 2135
Email:mcleanstone59910@hotmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam