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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:
  • "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.
  • +447031922799 (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.
  • onlinepostcodeagent@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: "Online People Postcode Lottery" <mak@hitex.co.in>
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2008 23:54:17 +0530 (IST)
Subject: Congratulations on your Award Winning Prize People's PostCode Online Lottery

Dear winner,

Congratulations on your Award Winning Prize People's
PostCode Online Lottery held on 16th of April, 2008.It is
yet to be claimed(Unclaimed).You are to Contact Our Agent
to redeem your Award Prize.

The agent's Contact are below:

MR MOORE MARK
Tel: +447031922799
Official Email: Onlinepostcodeagent@yahoo.co.uk

On behalf of the Online PostCode Lottery Award
Disbursement Center,I am pleased to present you with this
valuable Award Winning Prize of Award Winning Prize of
£987,470.00 (Nine Hundred and Eighty Seven Thousand,Four
Hundred and Seventy Pounds Sterling)in cash credited to
file PPL/6020011904/08. The People's Postcode Lottery is
promoted by several promoters. These are:
GoodFund,Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and sponsored by eminent
personalities like the sultan of Brunei, Bill Gates Of
Microsoft inc,Multi Choice and other corperate
organisations.


It was your e-mail address attached to
Ticket Number: 00901398
Serial Number: 8139/08
Your lucky numbers: 04-29-39-41-43-45 (bonus no.42).
That Won You the Award Winning Prize.


Please take the time to review it and note the terms of
expiration. To redeem your Award Winning Prize, simply
Contact Agent below:
The agent's Contact are below:


MR MOORE MARK
Tel: +447031922799
Official Email: Onlinepostcodeagent@yahoo.co.uk



Endeavour to fill the Winners Verification and Funds
Release form below:email him the following details
immediately:

Your Full Name:
Age:
Sex:
Full Contact Address:
Email Address:
Tel:
Occupation:

Payment Method (Collection In Person / Cheque / Bank
Transfer):

AMOUNT WON:
In Figures:
In Words:


Once again, congratulations on your award.
Sincerely,
Online Lottery Coordinator,
Mrs Judie McCourt
Online PostCode Lottery Award Disbursement Center.(C)2008
All rights reserved.
People's PostCode Lottery.

Offer valid to internet Users who are at least 16 years of
age. Void where prohibited. Purchase is not necessary to
claim award winning prize. You will need to meet all of
the steps to redeem as outlined in the Terms & Conditions
before you can receive Winning Prize .This email was sent
due to the registration of your email at the internet
Services.


This message brought to you by:
People's PostCode Lottery.
Main Office
Postcode Lottery Ltd
37 Sheen Road
Richmond, Surrey
TW9 1AJ
(Customer Care Centre/Enquiring)
Company Nr: 4862732

Judie McCourt

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam