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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:
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "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 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.
  • bar_thomaspinke@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: kim_alex200@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Fri, 10 Mar 2006 00:16:48 -0200
Subject: LOTTO WINNER


FROM: GOVERNMENT ACCREDITED LICENSED LOTTERY PROMOTERS. WINNING NOTICE
Machine Used For the Draw: MOONSTONE.
Ball Set Used: 6.
Winning Numbers: 10 - 10 - 22 - 25 - 49 - 49 - 01.
Prize Awards: £800,000.00
Our Ref: BNS-NL/0307/04.VOL.2/UK.
Your Ref: BNS-NL/03CTG/0609/07/UK.
Dear our treasured lucky winner,.
FOR CATEGORY \"A\" WINNER
Dear Lucky Winner,

RE: ELEKTRONIK LOTTO PROMOTION PRIZE AWARDS WINNING NOTIFICATION
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the just concluded annual
final draws of Lotto International Switzerland programs.
The online cyber lotto draws was conducted from an exclusive list of
25,000 e-mail addresses of individual and corporate bodies picked by an advanced
automated random computer search from the internet. No tickets were sold.After this
automated computer ballot,your e-mail address emerged as one of two winners in the category \"A\"
with the following:

You as well as the other winner are therefore to receive a cash prize
of £800,000.00.(EIGTH HUNDRED THOUSAND EURO ONLY) each from the total payout.Your
prize award has been insured with your e-mail address and will be transferred to you
upon meeting our equirements,statutory obligations, verifications, validations and
satisfactory report.

To begin the claims processing of your prize winnings you are advised
to contact our licensed and accredited claims agent for category \"A\" winners with
the information below:

Claim Agent

Barrister THOMAS PINKE.(UK REDEMPTION ATTORNEY)

Tell: +0044447031872619

E-mail:bar_thomaspinke@yahoo.co.uk

You are also advised to provide him with the under listed information
as soon as possible:
1. Name in full
2. Address
3. Nationality
4. Age
5. Occupation
6. Phone/Fax

NOTE: All winnings must be claimed not later than 14 days. After this
dateall unclaimed funds would be included in the next stake. Remember to quote
your reference information in all correspondence.

You are to keep all lotto information away from the general public
especially your reference and ticket numbers. (This is important as a case of double
claims will not be entertained).Members of the affiliate agencies are automatically not
allowed to participate in this program.

Thank you and congratulations!!!

Yours faithfully,

Mrs. Kimberly Alexander,
Games/Lottery Coordinator.
Lotto International Switzerland
This email may contain information which is confidential and/or
privileged.

The information is intended solely for the use of the individual or
entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient,be aware that any
disclosure,copying,distribution or use of the contents is prohibited.If you have received
this electronic transmission in error,please notify the sender by telephone
or return email and delete the material from your computer.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam