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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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• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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")
• 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.
  • +447045737252 (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.
  • microsoftonline55@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Microsoft AOL Award Team <microsoftaol55@netcabo.pt>
Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2007 00:11:52 +0100
Subject: BONAZA! BONAZA!! BONAZA!!! FROM MICROSOFT AOL AWARD TEAM




MICROSOFT AOL AWARD TEAM
61B Ashbourne Avenue,
London, NW11 0DT,
United Kingdom
Winning NO: 11.28.48.34.44.34.
Ref No: MSAOL/8700/LOM/008
Batch number: UK065/088/XY2400
********************************
********************************

Dear Cash Winner,

We wish to congratulate and inform you on the selection of your email coupon number which was selected among the CANCUN 7 lucky consolation prize winners. You have won a prize money of ?10,000.00 GBP {1,267,000 USD} for 2007.
You are to contact the claims agent with the following details for the release of your winnings which presently deposited with Clydesdale Bank Plc, UK.
Claims Requirements:

1.Name in full:
2.Home Address:
3.Age:
4.Occupation:
5.Phone Number:
6.Present Country:
7.Sex:
8.Marital Status:

MODE OF PAYMENT: Bank to bank transfer

Contact: Mr.David Oliver
Email: microsoftonline55@yahoo.com.hk
Tell +44 704 573 7252 {DIRECT LINE}

NOTE: WINNINGS SHOULD BE KEPT FROM THE PUBLIC, THIS IS TO PREVENT MULTIPLE CLAIMS AND IF THIS HAPPENS, YOU STAND EVERY CHANCE OF LOSING YOUR WINNINGS. BE AWARE OF THE FACT THAT YOU ARE THE ONLY LUCKY WINNER FOR THIS MONTH OF SEPTEMBER.

Regards,
Mrs. Linda Rose
Vice President
Microsoft AOL Award Lottery Team 2007

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam