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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:
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
• 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!

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: frankydav@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 17 Nov 2008 01:40:40 -0800 (PST)
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS FOR YOU ARE ONE OF OUR WINNERS


¡Tengo nueva dirección de correo!Ahora puedes escribirme a:daviesfrank98@yahoo.com.co



- We are happy to announce to you result of draw #(679) of the UKNATIONAL LOTTERY, online Sweepstakes International program held on20th October 2008.Your e-mail address attached to ticket number:56475600545188 with Serial number 5368/02 drew the lucky numbers:(06)(08)(10)(13)(22) (32) BONUS BALL(03)Youhave been approved to claim the sum of Six hundred and ninety one thousand,two hundred and fiftytwo pounds sterlings(691,252Pound Sterling).To file for your claim,pleasecontact our claims agentbelow Foreign Services Manage Congratulations from me and members of staff of THE NATIONAL LOTTERYsincerely Email the claim agent DR RENEE COOKemail:Email:deptreconciliationtransferunit@inmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam