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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:
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
• 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.
  • +2348065975255 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Yahoo Beta Lottery Inc Claim Agent" <rev_nicdominic@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 09 Aug 2007 02:21:29 +0100
Subject: ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF YAHOO PRIZE MONEY

YAHOO! REGIONAL OFFICE
Harold.Sm14te,London
UNITED KINGDOM.
08/08/2007


My Dear Igantius Newton,

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF YAHOO PRIZE.
We have acknowledged the receipt of your winning information and upon
approval you are requested to contact the West African Regional bank agent
for payment.The attached document is the approved winner's certificate made
and authorised for bank verification on your behalf from Yahoo! Head office
USA endorsed by the entire board of the Yahoo!
Beta sweepstakes.

Your winning fall in the West African payment location file therefore you
are requested to read the lottery rules below and contact our regional
paying bank Union Bank Nigeria by writing a formal application for fund
transfer as indicated in the prize notification for your prize,requirements
for
this process include,

PAYMENT OF PRIZE
Write an prize payment/ transfer application to the bank using the address
stated below:

Bank Address:
Union Bank Nig Plc
22nd Floor36 Marina,Lagos.
Nigeria

Contact Person: Mr. B. B. Ebong-manager Director
Email Address: manager-office@union-bnks-ngplc.com
Office Telephone: +234 806-597-5255


Contact the bank with the information below for confirmation of banking
details,

(1) Your Full Name
(2) Cell-Phone Number
(3) Bank Name
(4) Bank Address
(5) Bank Account Number
(6) Swift Code
(7) A copy of your deposit certificate
(8) A copy of your winning certificate

We wish to let know you that no amount will be deducted from your prize
until it is paid to you.The decisions of Yahoo Lottery are final and binding
in all matters relating to this sweepstakes.An entrant or winner may be
disqualified from the sweepstakes if he or she fails to comply with each
provision of these official rules,as determined in the sole discretion of
New Yahoo Lottery.

We congratulate you and wish you better use of claimed prize.Kindly update
us with the bank proceedings of claim.

God bless,

Reverend Dr Nic Dominic
Claim Agent
United Kingdom

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam