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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:
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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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 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.
  • +447031907866 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• 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.
  • jsmithdesk22@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Williams Mensah" <wmensah8761@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: wmensah2006@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Fri, 04 Aug 2006 22:09:15 -0400
Subject: AWARD NOTIFICATION.

UK NATIONAL LOTTERY,
PRIZE AWARD DEPT.
REF:PL2/209318/09
BATCH:18/103/HME

Attn:Winner,

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the
Lottery Winners International programs held on the
28/7/2006. Your e-mail address attached to ticket
number 43642795822-5022 with serial number 6614102,
batch number 856151507,lottery ref number 7675213911
and drew lucky numbers -9-4-17-34-44 which
consequently won in the category C.
you have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of
US$3.500,000.00 (THREE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND
United States dollars)

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that
you keep your winning information confidential until
your claims has been processed and your money Remitted
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
over 40,000 company and 20,000,000 individual
email addresses and names from all over the world.
This promotional program takes place every year. This
lottery was promoted and sponsored by Association of
software producers. we hope with part of your
winning,you will take part in our next year US$20
million international lottery. To file for your claim,
please contact our fiducial agent:
==============================================================
Mr.James Smith
GULF ATLANTIC S A .
woodgreen,london.
Email:jsmithdesk22@yahoo.com
Tel:+447031907866
==============================================================
Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than
5th September, 2006. After this date all unclaimed funds
will be included in the next stake. Please note in
order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications
please remember to quote your reference number and
batch numbers in all correspondence. Furthermore,
should there be any change of address do inform our
agent as soon as possible.


Congratulations once more from our members of staff
and thank you for being part of our promotional
program.
please you are advised to contact the agent with your winning numbers, this
is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and
unwarranted abuse of this program. Please be warned.
To file for your claim, please contact our claims agent and Provide him with
the information below:

FORMBVB-1
UK NATIONAL GRAND PREMIUM LOTTO
EUROPE/AMERICA PAYMENT OFFICE.
WINNERS QUESTIONAIRE
REFERENCE NUMBER: …………………………………….
WINNING NUMBER: …………………………………………
FULL NAME: ……………………………………………………
AGE:……………………………………….
SEX:…………………………………………
OCCUPATION :……………………………
COMPANY NAME:
.....................................................................................................
FULL ADDRESS: …………..…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
TEL: …………………………………
FAX: …………………………………..
E-MAIL…………………………………………
ACCOUNT COORDINATES (Details of the account where you want your funds
transferred): …………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………... …………………………………………………………………………………… BRIEF
DESCRIPTION OF COMPANY/ INDIVIDUAL: ……………………………………………………
……………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………… HAVE YOU EVER DIRECTLY/INDIRECTLY
PARTICIPATED IN ANY LOTTERY PROGRAMME (YES OR NO) IF YES PLEASE
STATE…………………………………………………..
HOW DO YOU WISH TO SPEND YOUR WON PRIZE ………………………………………….
I HEREBY ENDORSE THIS QUESTIONAIRE AND AGREE TO ABIDE BY THE TERMS AND
CONDITION OF THE "UK NATIONAL GRAND PREMIUM LOTTERY
ORGANISATION._________________________________Date
_____________________________Signature
__________________________________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yours Sincerely,
Mr.Williams Mensah
Lottery Coordinator.

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam