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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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• 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:

• 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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +447024097008 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +447024070891 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: Timothy Cromwell <cromwell-fiduciary@britishlottoint.orangehome.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 26 Jul 2006 13:40:13 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: CLAIMS PROCESSING FORM


BRITISH LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL
Headquarters: 60 Merriman Road
Blackheath London SE3 8RZ
England.
CUSTOMER SERVICE

CLAIMS PROCESSING FORM
Dear Winner,
Congratulations once again from all the staff here. In order to verify your winnings, we need your particulars for record purposes. Attached here is a copy of our verifications form, please fill accordingly so as to proceed with your winnings. Once again congratulations from all the staff.

1. FULL NAMES:_______________________________________________________
2.NATIONALITY:_______________________________________________________
3. DATE OF BIRTH________________________________________
4. SEX:_________________________
5. MARITAL STATUS:_____________________________________
6.CONTACT ADDRESS:_____________________________________________
7.TELEPHONE NUMBER:___________________
8.OCCUPATION:_________________________________
9.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF COMPANY/INDIVIDUAL:_______________________________________
10.WINNING E-MAIL ADDRESS:________________________________
11.WINNING NUMBER:_________________________________________
12TOTAL AMOUNT WON:_________________________________________
Upon reciept of the duly requested data, your certificate will be processed and sent to you. This is to be your proof of winning from this office to the bank before they (the bank) can release your winnings. Once again congratulations.
Warm regards,
Mr.Timothy Cromwell
Foreign Services Manager,
Payment and Release Order Dept.
Phone: +44-702 407 0891
+44 702 409 7008

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam