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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 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!
• 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.
  • +447031849580 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +447031941121 (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.
  • mehmet_fhm@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: "british american online lottery" <british_americanlotto@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 15 Oct 2005 20:36:05 +0000
Subject: Winning Notification

BRITISH AMERICAN ONLINE LOTTERY COMMISSION:
CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPT.
*******************************************
REGENT'S PARK,LONDON NW1 4NS,UNITED KINGDOM
*******************************************
Ref: BAOL/19823108/05/DON
Batch: 23/012/4774

Attn: Winner

We are pleased to announce to you the draw of the British American
Online Lottery International programs held on the 1st of october 2005
(01/10/2005) in London. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number:
2314759773 914 with Serial Number: 19445/02 drew the Lucky Numbers:
00-7-50-1600-01, which subsequently make's you one of the bonafide winner of
the lottery promo in the 2nd category. You have therefore been approved to
claim a total sum of GBP 1,500,000.00 (One Million, Five Hundred
Thousand,British Pounds) in cash credited to file BAOL/19823108/05/DON.

This is from a total cash prize of GBP35,000.000.00 (Thirty Five
Million British Pounds) shared amongst the first Twenty Five (25) lucky
winners in this category "B".
Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our British
booklet representative office in Europe as indicated in our play coupon. In
view of this, your GBP1,500,000.00 (One Million, Five Hundred Thousand,
British Pounds) would be released to you physically or via Bank to Bank
Transfer by our affiliate Bank. Our agent will immediately commence the
process to facilitate the release of your funds to you as soon as with him.

All participants were selected randomly from 'World Wide Web' site e.g
www.yahoo.com, www.hotmail.com, www.aol.com ,www.maktoob.com,
www.msn.com e.t.c through computer draw system and extracted from over
100,000 companies.

For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information
confidential till your claims is processed and your money remitted to
you. This is a part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming
and unwarranted abuse of this program by someunscrupulous elements.

Please be warned. To file for your claim, please contact your claims
agent with the below details for processing of your claims and endeavor to
list out your winning numbers when filing your claim.
**************************************************
Name: Dr.Mehmet Fehmi.
Tel: +447031849580,+44 7031941121,+44 7031941154,
+44 7031845076,+447031943289
Fax:+44 7092866716
E-mail: mehmet_fhm@yahoo.co.uk
Foreign Services Manager, Payment and Release order Department,
BRITISH AMERICAN ONLINE LOTTERY COMMISSION, UNITED KINGDOM
**************************************************
Note that all claims process and clearance procedures must be duly
completed early to avoid impersonation arising to the issue of double
claim.

To avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please quote your
reference/batch numbers in any correspondences with us or our designated
agent.
Your are advised to acknowledge the receipt of your notification by
return phone call.

Congratulations once more from all members and staffs of this program.

Yours Faithfully,

Mr. McDonald Philip.
British American Online Lottery Coordinator.
Tel: +447031943309,+447031943328

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam