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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:

• 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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "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 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.
  • johnhyland999@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs Annebal George" <mag_1668@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: georgeannabel999@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2006 04:27:19 +0000
Subject: Congratulations!!

EURO INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY
12 BRIDGE STREET,
STAINES MIDDLESEX TW18 4TP UK
UNITED KINGDOM

Dear Sir/Madam,

This is to inform you that have been selected for a cash prize of £800.000
(EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND GREAT BRITISH POUNDS) International programs lottery
held on Thursday 23rd of January 2006 in London(The united kingdom).

The selection process was carried out through random selection in our
computerized email selection system(ESS) from a database of over 250,000
email addresses of Individuals and companys drawn from all the continents of
the world.

This Lottery is approved by the British Gaming Board and also Licensed by
the The International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR). This
promotional lottery is the tenth of its kind.
To begin the processing of your prize you are to contact your claims officer
through our accredited
Prize Transfer agents as stated below:

MR. JOHN HYLAND
LINK TRUST FINANCE LTD
(Claim agent)
EMAIL: johnhyland999@yahoo.co.uk

Contact him as soon as possible,provide him with your secret pin code
x7pwyz2005 and your reference number BWBI:2551256003/23.
Failure to contact your claims agent within 7 working days of this
notification,your winnings would be revoked. Winners are advised to keep
their winning details/information from the public to avoid fraudulent claim
(IMPORTANT)pending the transfer/claim by Winner.

Accept my hearty congratulations once again!

Regards,

Mrs.George Annabel.
Director Gen. of promotions

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam