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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "foreign service manager" (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!
• 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.
  • claims_white2007@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: John Wood <woodjohn041@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 8 Sep 2007 06:51:37 +0100
Subject: AWARD NOTIFICATION



ATTENTION:RE/ AWARD NOTIFICATION; FINAL NOTICEWe are pleased to inform you of the announcementtoday, 8th September, 2007 of winners of the VICTORYPROMO LOTTERY,THE SPAIN/ INTERNATIONAL, PROGRAMSheld on 3RD September, 2007.Your email address,is attached to ticket number023-0148-790-459, with serial number 5073-11 drewthe lucky numbers 43-11-44-37-10-43, and consequently won the lotteryinthe 3rd category.You have therefore been approved for a lump sum payout of US$5,500.000.00 in cash credited to file REFNO. SSW/25041238013/03. This is from total prize money ofUS$80,400,000.00 shared among the seventeeninternational winners in this category.All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawnfroma collation of frequent internet users from all over the world fromAustralia,New Zealand, America, Europe, North America and Asia as partofInternational Promotions Program, which is conducted bia-annually.CONGRATULATIONS!Your fund is now deposited with a Security companyinsured in your name. Due to the mix up ofsome numbers and names, we ask that you keep thisaward strictly from public notice until your claim has been processedandyour money remitted to your account.This is part of our security protocol to avoiddouble claiming or unscrupulous acts by participantsof this program. We hope with a part of you prize, you will participatein our end of year high stakes US$1.3 billion International Lottery.To begin your claim, please contact your claimagent; MRS.STELLA WHITE, FOREIGN SERVICE MANAGER,RAYMOND CROSSROAD, SPAIN, via this email address(claims_white2007@yahoo.co.uk )For due processing and remittance of your prizemoney to a designated account of your choice.Remember, all prize money must be claimed not laterthan 15th September, 2007. After this date, all funds will be returned asunclaimed.NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays andcomplications, please remember to quote yourreference and batch numbers in every one of yourcorrespondences with your agent.Furthermore, should there be any change of youraddress, do inform your claims agent as soon aspossible.Congratulations again from all our staff and thank you forbeing part of our promotions program.Sincerely,MR.ANTHONY WOODTHE PROMOTIONS MANAGER,VICTORY PROMO LOTTERY,THESPAIN.
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam