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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• 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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "million pounds" (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 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.
  • +447031876028 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: onlinelottery01@onet.eu
Date: Wed, 21 May 2008 17:12:59 +0200
Subject: You Have Won Osa British National Lottery


Osa British National Lottery

3b Olympic Way, Sefton Business Park,
Aintree, Liverpool,L30 1RD
Ref: EAASL/941OYI/02/SHYN
Batch: 12/25/0034=20

WINNING NOTIFICATION

This is to inform you that your email address has won the Osa
british lottery which was held on 1st May 2008. your email with serial
number 5388/02 and ticket number 564 75600545 188 hit the jackpot .
You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of =A31.500,000 in ca=
sh
credited to file KPC/9080118308/02/SHYN. This is from a total cash prize of
=A315 Million Pounds shared among the first TEN (10) lucky winners in this
category. You are advised to keep this notice to yourself because of
individuals who may divert your money to theirs and they also use our
company to deceive others,you are advised to report back by means of email.
Name: Mr.David MarkAddress:3b Olympic Way, Sefton Business Park Aintree,
Liverpool,L30 1RD
Tel:+44 7031876028Email:agentdavidmark01@yahoo.co.ukhttp://www.osalotteries=
.com/news
Participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from
Microsoft users from company and individual email addresses users. All
winning must be claimed not later than 21 working days from the time of
notification. After this date all unclaimed funds will be returned to
European Union Treasury as unclaimed Prizes. Please note, in order to avoid
unnecessary delays and complications please remember to quote your referenc=
e
number in all correspondence. 1. Full Name2. Address.3. Country.4.
Mobile /Fax number.5. Occupation. 6 .Age Congratulations from the staff, an=
d
thank you for being part of email account users of this program. Yours
Sincerely,
Mrs. Dianne ThompsonOsa Online Lottery Co-ordinator

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam