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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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• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "you are required to pay " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "processing fee" (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
• 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!

Fraud email example:

From: AGENT JOHN MOORE <claim_johnmoore@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2006 12:30:49 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Payment Processing Form,



Shell Lottery Promo
Payment Processing Form
Shell Management Madrid Spain.
(Customer Services)
Dear Madras House,

I will like you to know that this is an International Lotto, which we have explained to you earlier. You are to send us the required information needed below to enable us complete the processing of your fund as your claim agent.

I want to be paid by (A) Bank Transfer (B) Certified Check (C) Personal Pickup.


Your Full Name. ………………………………………
Your home address……………………………………..
Your Tel/Fax #. ………………………………
Your State/ Country of resident ………………………………….
Your Status (A) Married (B) Divorced (C) Single
Your Age/Occupation …………………………… ………………..
Your Ref/Batch Number …………………………………………..
Any form of identification.( Attach it to the email)
As your agent, our duty is to process payment for your lotto wining, As well help you obtain you Guarantee Claim Certificate from the International Shell lotto Commission Board. Then forward all correspondents to the approved paying Bank for this year Lotto Winner.

Our processing fee is 5% of 715,810,000 United Stated Dollars and you are required to pay this free after the said amount have been paid by your nominated payment method.

I ……………………….. Mr/Mrs hereby declare that I have never received any payment insured on my behalf from the Shell Lotto Company nor have a member of my family filled a claim on my behalf. I here give authorization to Mr. John Moore who is my Claim Agent to act on my behalf in the processing and payment of my fund via my nominated Payment method.

Yours Sincerely,
Agent John Moore.

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam