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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• 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!
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • dandersonepl@aol.com

Fraud email example:

From: "EPL" <uklottointernet@aim.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: dandersonepl@aim.fr
Date: Thu, 21 Feb 2008 19:13:50 +0100
Subject: YOU JUST WON A BRAND NEW MERCEDES BENZ ML63 SUV IN THE EPL INTERNATIONAL SWEEPSTAKES

Dear Esteemed Winner,

FROM: INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARDS DEPARTMENT EPL INTERNATIONAL SWEEPSTAKES
AWARD NOTIFICATION: FINAL NOTICE Attn: Lucky Winner,
We are delighted to inform you of your prize release in the
English Premier League International sweepstakes conducted annually.
Date: 14/01/2008
Ref: EPL8701/LPRC
Batch: 8056490902/190
Winning no: 575061725.
The Program is fully based on an electronic selection of winners
using their e-mail addresses. Your email name was selected randomly in the final draw held on the 14th of January, 2008
You hereby have been approved a prize of The New 2008 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG (SUV)
You are one of the ten lucky winners in the international final draw
All participants were selected through a computer balloting system drawn from
One hundred thousand E-mail addresses from Canada, Australia, United States, Asia, Europe,
Middle East and Africa.
As part of our international promotions program which is conducted annually.
This Lottery was promoted and sponsored by the English Premier League,
in association with AOL Corporation, Budweiser and Barclays Bank Plc London.
Further more your details (e-mail address) falls within our European representative
office in London ,England, as indicated in your play coupon and your
prize of The New 2008 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG (SUV) will be released to you
from our EPL International Sweepstakes Organization in London.
HOW TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE: Simply contact our claims Agent
CONTACT NAME: Barrister David Anderson
CLAIMS VERIFICATION OFFICE: 53rd Street Shavington Park Avenue London, England.
EMAIL:dandersonepl@aol.com
To file for your claim: Please quote your Date of draw, Reference Number, Batch Number
and Winning Number, which can be found on the top-left corner of this message.
Also, you should give in your telephone number to help contact you easily.
For security reasons, we advice all winners to keep this information confidential
from the public until your claim is processed and your prize has been released to you.
This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted taking
advantage of this programme by non-participant or unofficial personnel.
Note, all winnings MUST be claimed by the 31st of January, 2008, otherwise your prize will be returned as Unclaimed.
Congratulations once again on your winning!
ALSO ENSURE YOU TYPE THE E-MAIL ADDRESS CORRECTLY TO
ENSURE SAFE & QUICK MAIL DELIVERY/RESPONSE. ANY BREACH
OF CONFIDENTIALITY ON THE PART OF WINNERS WILL RESULT
TO DISQUALIFICATION.
NOTE: EPL INTERNATIONAL SWEEPSTAKES ORGANIZATION IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR SHIPMENT OF PRIZES AFTER CLAIMS.
A Scanned copy of your confirmation with a picture of your prize has been attached to this mail.
Best Regards
Mrs. Della Thompson
EPL International Sweepstakes
Online Coordinator

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam