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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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "claims 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. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• 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.
  • +447045705607 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Michael Riggs" <claimsagentoffice005@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 28 Jul 2007 14:01:56 +0100 (BST)
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?q?2nd=20Procedure=20On=20How=20To=20Claim=20Your=20=A3600,00?=
=?iso-8859-1?q?=200.00=20Winner=20Prize.?=


Dear Winner Prize (Alarica Schaefstein)

I am Mr.Michael Riggs,the claims agent assigned to your case to help you in the claims process of your funds. I wish to congratulate you and to say you are a lucky person to have won this lottery. All the winners in the Lottery were selected by an advanced automated random computer ballot search from the Internet as part of our international promotions program which we conduct every year.

1) You to employ the services of our 112 Courier UK Ltd service to deliver your prize Funds in Cheque to your physical mailing address.

2) Your winning parcel will be transfered into your bank account within 48hrs.

As soon as these details are been provided, we will be sending you procedures on the options you must have choosen from the two option above on which you will like to claim your winning parcel.


Congratulations Once Again!!!

Your Sincerely,
Mr.Michael Riggs
Tel:+447045705607
Power Ball Lottery Promo
Claims Fiduciary Agent, POWER BALL LOTTERY PROMO 2007.




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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam