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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash)
• 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.
  • spend_big@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "katrina" <tunnels_6005@excite.com>
Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2006 06:53:33 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: RE: ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .


Kingsgate Lottery Headquarters: Customer Service kingsgate Sweepstake Lottery an Affiliate of watergate inc. 28 TANFIELD ROAD, CROYDON.LONDON Ref: KGSL/941OYI/02 Batch: 12/25/DC34Date:24 .8.2006 ATTENTION: I have received your informations sent to my office and i am happy for you.I will start immediately the processing of your claims/certificate and on completion of your certificate you will be contacted before it is couriered to the payment centre for immediate remittance of your winning sum to you by any means you best choose.Please note that the processing of your certificate might take up to 24hrs before it will be completed. Sincerely,Mrs Katrina Sharp.--- On Thu 08/24, manuel gonzalez &lt; spend_big@yahoo.com &gt; wrote:From: manuel gonzalez [mailto: spend_big@yahoo.com]To: tunnels_6005@excite.comDate: Thu, 24 Aug 2006 00:25:06 -0700 (PDT)Subject: RE: Provide necessary information for processing of lottery prize .This is the Information you have requested from me,
read below.katrina wrote:





Kingsgate Lottery Headquarters: Customer Service kingsgate Sweepstake Lottery an Affiliate of watergate inc. 28 TANFIELD ROAD, CROYDON.LONDON Ref: KGSL/941OYI/02 Batch: 12/25/DC34Date:24.8.2006ATTENTION: I am Mrs Katrina Sharp the fiduciary agent assigned to your case.I wish to congratulate you on your victory,you are a lucky person to have won this lottery.You are required to forward the following details to help facilitate the processing of your claims and certificate which will facilitate the release of your winnings. 1. Manuel Jay Gonzalez2. 6710 Marcum DR. Zip code 78227 San Antonio, Texas3. house phone, 210-674-4449 Cell phone 210-836-51504. Fax number. none available5. Gardening Department at Home Depot6. Male7. 20 8. HispanicYYou are adviced to forward these informations as soon as possible to enable us attend to your file.Please note that your funds have been deposited safely in a security firm in London,and your information will be forwarded to them before they can
release your winnings.You are also to choose the mode which you want to collect your funds: i. Courier your cheque to you ii.By electronic transfer. I would like Courier to deliver my cheque. After you have sent down these information, a scanned copy of your certificate will be emailed to you. This is to be your proof of winning from this office to the security firm before they release your funds.You are adviced to keep your winning numbers secret to avoid unscripulous elements from taking advantage of the situation.Once again,congratulations. Yours sincerely, Mrs Katrina SharpWatergate inc. Confidentiality Notice: The information contained in this e-mail and any attachments may be legally privileged and confidential. If you are not an intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination,distribution or copying of this e-mail is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender and permanently delete the e-mail and any
attachments immediately. You should not retain, copy or use this e-mail or any attachment for any purpose, nor disclose all or any part of the contents to any other person.--- On Wed 08/23, manuel gonzalez &lt; spend_big@yahoo.com &gt; wrote:From: manuel gonzalez [mailto: spend_big@yahoo.com]To: tunnels_6005@excite.comDate: Tue, 22 Aug 2006 22:10:02 -0700 (PDT)Subject: Lottery thingy..was that e-mail a joke? said i won some type of money.


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam