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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
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• 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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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.
  • uklotto24@netscape.net

Fraud email example:

From: LOTTO24 ONLINE LOTTERY <thelotto24@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: uklotto24@netscape.net
Date: Tue, 06 Dec 2005 22:17:25 +0000
Subject: Lucky Lotto24 Draw Results


LOTTO24 ONLINE LOTTERY
(www.lotto24.co.uk)
58c Morat Street, SW9 0RR
London-UK

From The Desk of: The Vice President,
International Promotions/ Prize Award.
Ref: LD401UK/05
Batch: LD836/05/UK
WINNING NOTIFICATION!!!!
This is to inform you of the release of the newly launched email lottery ballot draw held on the 1st of December 2005. Although due to the mix up of numbers, the results were released on the 4th of December 2005.
Congratulations. Your email address drew the lucky numbers of 11-8-9, which consequently won £125,000.00 (One Hundred & Twenty Five Thousand Pounds Sterling) in this new email lottery ballot in the 1st category.
You have therefore been approved for a lump sum payout of £125,000.00 ( One Hundred & Twenty Five Thousand Pounds) in cash credited to file with ref number LD401UK/05.
Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep your winning information confidential until your claims have been processed and your money paid to you.
This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some participants.
All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from only Microsoft users from over 20,000 company, and 3,000,000 individual email addresses and names from all over the world.
This new promotional program would be taking place every three years.
To begin your lottery claim, please contact Dr.Ben Cole your claims agent LOTTO24 ONLINE LOTTERY, UK office on Tel:0044-788-145-4005. Email:(uklotto24@netscape.net) who has been appointed for the processing of your winning.

Call him immediately for the processing and remittance of your winning
prize Money to any destination of your choice.

Any claim not made before two weeks from this date will be reverted to charity organization, appointed by the Global Lottery International and Lotto24 would not be held liable for such unpaid winnings

Also in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, remember to quote your reference number and batch numbers in all your correspondence with Dr. Ben Cole and please follow all his instructions religiously.

Furthermore, should there be any change of address do inform your agent as soon
as possible.
Congratulations once more from our members of staff and you are lucky for being part of our promotional program.

Yours Sincerely,

Mrs.Sandra Platt
Lotto24 Online Lottery
International Promotions/ Prize Award,
UK Lotto24 (www.lotto24.co.uk)
NB: Any breach of confidentiality on the part of the winners will result to instant disqualification.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam