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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:
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• 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!
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • +447045709185 (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.
  • greg_whitechambers101@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: MARK BOLTON <bmw_groupinternationalaward@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 29 May 2007 19:31:18 +0100 (BST)
Subject: YOUR CLAIMS HAS BEEN APPROVED


BMW AUTOMOBILE COMPANY.
62 Winslow Road,London,
Middlesex,W6 9SF,
United Kingdom.




YOUR CLAIMS HAS BEEN APPROVED

Dear Winner,

I am of receipt of your email, I am glad to inform you that your Verification and Fund Release form was received in my desk, After carrying out your winning verification, which was found to tally with what we have in this department, I am happy to inform you that your prize claims has been approved for claims. You are advice to contact the Promotion Attorney with the informations below regarding your winning prize delivery.

In respect for the delivery of your winnings, The British Government require a good evidence of payment of Value Added Tax (VAT) to enable the lottery company transfer your Winning prize out of United Kingdom to your destination.

You are hereby advised to contact The Promotion Attorney immediately either via e-mail or telephone with your personal information on your prize winnings delivery, You are now advice to contact the Barrister Via Email or Telephone with the Informations Below:



Barr.Greg White

Email:greg_whitechambers101@yahoo.co.uk
Tel: +44-7045709185

The above mentioned Attorney will be responsible to give you an accurate details about British Valued Added Tax (VAT) of your winnings Delivery.You are to send the promotion attorney your personal details for verification of claims. You are also advise to give me Update about your delivery Informations with the Barrister. Once again Congratulations.

Note: All winnings must be claimed not later than two (2) weeks, after the period of 2 weeks due to Winning Prize claims and Delivery Schedule, all unclaimed funds will be included in the next Sweepstake. Please note in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications please remember to quote your Reference number in all Correspondence with this office.




Fiduciary Claims Department (FCD),
Fred Wilson.
United Kingdom.


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam