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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• 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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "thabo themba" <oslolottery_2005@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 03 Jul 2006 10:34:14 +0200
Subject: YOUR INFORMATION REQUIRED

OSLO NATIONAL LOTTERY
FROM THE DESK OF THE CLAIM AGENT
MR THABO THEMBA
27 839 256 041.

DEAR Amarjit Singh,

CONGRATULATION FOR BECOMING A WINNER IN OUR LOTTERY PROMOTION.
THERE IS NOTHING LIKE SCAM IN THIS I PROMISE YOU,OUR BOARD HAVE BEEN DOING
THIS FOR YEARS AND WE HAVE HAD SO WINNERS WHO BENEFITED FROM THIS
PROMOTION.AND ALSO WE ARE SORRY FOR NOT REPLY YOUR MAIL URGENT WE WERE
CLEARING OUR WINNERS WITH THEIR OWN PRIZES.

SO WHAT THE BOARD EXPECTS YOU TO DO NOW IS TO FORWARD US YOUR PERSONAL
DETAILS WHICH CAME WITH THE NOTIFICATION LETTER OF YOUR WINNING,LIKE
YOUR FULL NAME ,HOME ADDRESS ,LAND AND CELL PHONE NUMBER ,COUNTRY OF
ORIGIN,OCCUPATION.ALL THIS INFORMATION WE ARE ASKING WILL HELP US TO SEND
YOU FORM TO FILL BEFORE YOU WILL CLAIM YOUR PRIZE.

CONGRATULATION ONCEMORE AND WE EXPECT YOUR REPLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

BEST REGARDS,
THABO THEMBA.

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam