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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.

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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")
  • "deadline" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
• 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: "johnson.cole2@virgin.net" <johnson.cole2@virgin.net>
Date: Sat, 1 Oct 2005 13:59:47 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: REF


FROM: THE DESK OF THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER, INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT,UK LOTTO. REF: SSL/5181/7390007/77 BATCH: 2101/14/LPP
DEAR SIR /MADAM
This is to inform you on the release of the U.K LOTTERY PROGRAM held on Monday the 19th of AUGUST 2005. Among the 129 participants that played 6000 full ticket in the fifth series, from a pool of US$181,600,000.00 (One Hundred and Eighty One Million Six Hundred Thousand US Dollars) in cash, your name attached to ticket number 525—11464992—750 with Serial number 760112-05 drew the lucky numbers 09-14-23-24-31-41 which consequently won the lottery prize in that category. You have therefore been approved for a lump sum payout of US$4,800,000.00 (FOUR MILLION EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND US DOLLARS) in cash credited to file REF NO: AGB/9800/145701/02. CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Remember that the validity of the prizes is one month after the draw date, however an insurance company in England reserve the right to place a bond on grand prize and second prize winners of $ 1,000.00 on each $ 100,000.00 won, on all outstanding unclaimed prizes, in order to give winners a second chance to make a claim.
Your fund is now deposited with a security company insured to your name, which are responsible for handling and remittance of won prizes and funds until they are accurately disbursed. Due to mixed up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep this award from public notice until your claim has been processed and your money remitted to your nominated account as this is a part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming or unwarranted advantage of this program been taken by participants.
All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 25,000 names from Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and North America as part of our international promotions program, which we conduct once every year. We hope that with a part of your prize, you will take part in our end of year HIGHSTAKE US$150 Million International lottery.
Since we don’t deal directly with the public to begin your claim, this notice will be forwarded to our licensed and bonded European Agency or contact your claims agent, MRS KATIE WHITESTONE. (Foreign Operational Manager) UK NOTHERN PACIFIC BOND AND TRUST.
via Email: foreignoperationalmanager@2005nationallotterry.com or tel: 00 44 7900 560 137 For processing and remittance of your prize money to a designated account of your choice, the deadline for this notice is the 30th sept 2005. Non-compliance within this period of time may result in disqualification and insured prize will be forfeited to the insurance company or the unclaimed funds are returned to the U.K LOTTERY.
NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in every correspondence with your agent or us. Furthermore, should there be any change of your address, do inform your claims agent as soon as possible. Congratulations once again from all members of our staff and thank you for being a part of our promotions program.
PLEASE KEEP YOUR WINNINGS CONFIDENTIAL TO AVOID DOUBLE CLAIMS.
YOURS SINCERELY
J. Cole
JOHNSON COLE. ( PROMOTIONS MANAGER)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam