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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:
  • "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.
  • blessing_guel@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Nestle Promo" <nestlecustomerpromo@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 22 Oct 2005 15:27:39 +0000
Subject: FINAL AWARD NOTIFICATION/YOU HAVE WON!!!

FROM: THE DESK OF THE DIRECTOR 13TH OF OCTOBER 2005
NESTLE PROMO.
REF: ELG/743/B7/69
File number:UK-743-GS.811
Ticket number: 45.026
BATCH:062/2005.




ATTENTION:

We are pleased to inform you the beneficiary whose email address
is on this mail(more personal data not included, to avoid
impersonation)about the release of the awaited delayed result to our first
international promotion program held on 3rd september 2005.Emails were
picked at random and were later subjected to balloting and yours was
eventually selected as one of the winners in the 2nd Category.We gave you a
rare chance and you won your dreams BIG this september.

This program was designed to promote and encourage international
participation in our internet facilities and its being sponsored by eminent
personalities all over the world as a way to encourage the usage of Internet
service world wide.You won the sum of pound;850.000.00 (eight hundred and
fifty thousand Pounds ).You are adviced to keep your winning informations
keep strictly personal.All winning claims, must be submitted by a registered
claims agent for verification immediately.


Beneficiaries are to come to Europe to make direct claims to their
respective winnings. In a situation where winners can not travel to
Europe,alternative transfer process will be effected by the help of your
registered claims agent.

To begin your claims, please contact your claims agent:

Mrs.Blessing Guel.
Transfer manager,
FINANCE AGENT.
email:blessing_guel@yahoo.co.uk

The dead line date for this claims is 2nd of november 2005.After this
date,unclaimed winnings will be returned to the British Economic
Ministry,and late entry penalty requirements must be met before late entry
claims can be considered.We shall send you correspondence, by mail about our
next program to be held on 28th febuary 2006 .

LEVY BREW(Programe Director)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam