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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:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "foreign service manager" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
• 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.
  • mrwilsonkings@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: "seekers world" <seekerworld01@sympatico.ca>
Date: Tue, 14 Mar 2006 20:16:46 +0000
Subject: AWARD NOTIFICATION !!!

FROM: THE DESK OF THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT,
REF: LP/26510460037/03
BATCH: 24/00319/IPD

Attn: Lucky Winner,

RE: AWARD NOTIFICATION FINAL NOTICE
We are pleased to inform you of the release today, 28th February
2006,of the CONTINENTAL /INTER-NATIONAL LOTTERY AGENCY held on the 23th January,2006.

Your name/Email Address attached to ticket number 02511464992-750 with  serial number 2113-05 drew the lucky number 3-18-19-30-32-39, which  consequently won the lottery in the 3rd category.

You are therefore been approve for the lump sum pay out of Dollars US$  1,500,000. (One million,fivehundred thuosand dollars) in cash credit to the file REF:LP/26510460037/03. This is from a total prize of 15,000,000.00  Dollars share among the ten International winners in this category.
CONGRATULATION!

Your fund is now deposited with a Security Company CONTINENTAL LOTTORY. Due to the mixed up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep this  award a top secret from the public notice until your claim has been processed and your prize money remitted to your account as this is a part of our  Security protocol to avoid double claiming award or unwarranted taking advantage  of this program by participants.

All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn  from
25,000names/email addresses from Australia, USA,Europe,Asia,NewZealand,Middle-East and South-North America .As part  of our international promotions program, which we conducted once in a  year.We hope with a part of your prize, you will take part in our end of the year high stake uros 300 Million International Lottery.

To redeem your claim, please contact the issuing authority, your prize  claim agent, Mr. Wilson Kings, (Foreign Service Manager) for processing and  remittance of your prize money to a designated account of your choice.  Email:{mrwilsonkings@yahoo.co.uk}. Remember,all prize money must be claimed not later than 28th April 2006, After this date, all funds will be returned as unclaimed.

Note: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please  remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in every of your  correspondence with your agent. Furthermore, should there be any  address do inform your claims agent as soon as possible. Please remember to ask  for your prize claim certificate. Congratulation again from all member of our staff and thank you for being part of our promotion program.

Best regards,
 Margaret Campbell

FOR AND UNBEHALF OF: CONTINENTAL /INTER-NATIONAL LOTTERY AGENCY.NB/
SEND YOUR FULL NAME /  SEX /AGE/ ADDRESS,COUNTRY AND  YOUR  TELEPHONE / FAX NUMBERS,AS WELL AS YOUR MOBILE NUMBER.

 

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam