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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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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "overseas subscribers agents" (can only win this lottery if you bought a ticket)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • ",000,000" (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!

Fraud email example:

From: chukwunye ego <drcego1@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 18 Jul 2007 22:46:33 +0100 (BST)
Subject: DETAILS.


THE NATIONAL LOTTERY UK
The Marina Offices, St Peters Marina,
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 1HX
England
Ref. Number: 87K4/336/T071/006
Batch Number: 468911521-Bc87

Dear Valdemarr Wechshagen,

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 claims and unwarranted abuse
of this program by some participants.

I am the Foreign Service Coordinator here in Nigeria, I commence the process to facilitate
the release of your funds as soon as you contact me with all the necessary information.
All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from over
20,000,000 company and 30,000,000 individual email addresses from all
over the world.(THEREFORE YOU DO NOT NEED TO BUY A TICKET TO ENTER FOR
IT.YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS WAS RANDOMLY SELECTED AS A WINNER).This promotional program takes place every three years.

This lottery was promoted and sponsored by The Coca-Cola Company,
British American Tobacco plc and eminent personalities, we hope with
part of your winning, you will take part in our next three years USD50 million
International Promotion lottery.

To file for your claim, please provide the following information immediately you read this
message for quick and urgent Release of your fund.

(1) FULL NAME OF BENEFICIARY:
(2) REFERENCE NUMBER:
(3) COUNTRY:
(4) AGE:
(5) SEX:
(6) OCCUPATION:
(7) TELEPHONE NUMBER:

Please note, in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications,
remember to quote your reference number and batch numbers in all
correspondence.

Thanks,
Dr. Chukwunye Ego

Foreign Service Coordinator
Overseas Subscribers Agents
Nigeria.



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam