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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "greater london" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • claimagent_stuart@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: "MICROSOFTLOTTREY " <m.microsoftlottrey2007@rediffmail.com>
Date: 26 Mar 2007 13:03:17 -0000
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION CONGRATULATION!!!


Yahoo/Msn LotteryIncoperationBaley House, Har RoadSutton, Greater LondonSM1 4te,United Kingdom

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;YAHOO &amp; MSN MICROSOFT WINDOWS LOTTERY

This is to inform you that you have won a prize money of (£150,000) ONEHUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND GREAT BRITAIN POUNDS STERLINGS for the month of March, 2007 Lottery&nbsp; promotion which is organized by YAHOO/MSNLOTTERY INC &amp; WINDOWS LIVE.


YAHOO&amp;MSN MICROSOFT WINDOWS, collects all the email addresses&nbsp;of the people that are active online, among the millionas that subscribed&nbsp;toYahoo and Hotmail we only select five people every Month as our winners through electronic balloting System without the&nbsp;winnerapplying,we congratulate you for being one of the people selected.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; PAYMENT OF PRIZE AND CLAIM


You are to contact your Claims Agent on or before your date ofClaim, Winners Shall be paid in accordance with his/her SettlementCentre.

Yahoo/Msn Lottery Prize must be claimed not later than 15 days from the date ofDraw Notification after the Draw date in whichPrize has been won.Any prize notclaimed within this period will be forfeited.


These are your identification numbers:

Batch number.....................YM 09102XNReff number.......................YM35447XNWinning number...................YM09788

These numbers fall within your location file,you are requested tocontact EVENTS AGENT MANAGER,send your winning identification numbers to them at this contact address below.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
(CONTACT EVENTS AGENT MANAGER)

Mr Stuart&nbsp; Langridge EMAIL: claimagent_stuart@yahoo.co.uk
You are therefore advised to send the following information to the EVENTS AGENT to facilitate them and process the delivery of your winnings to you.

NAME:....................................AGE:.......................................SEX:.......................................ADDRESS:..............................EMAIL:...................................PHONE:...................................FAX:.......................................OCCUPATION:.........................STATE....................................COUNTRY:..............................NATIONALITY.........................

Congratulations!! once again.Yours in service,


Cordially,Sir&nbsp; Gregory WilliamOnline Co-ordinatorYahoo/Msn LotterySweepstakes International Program.


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam