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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!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• 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:
  • "my names are " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • +2348026891838 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Yahoo&Msn/Windows Live Promotion Incoperation
<Winnersselected@Micrososft.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: claims.eventsmanager@live.com
Date: Sat, 12 Jul 2008 07:24:41 -0500
Subject: HELLO

HELLO
We happily Announceto you for been one of the Three Lucky Winner
OfYahoo&Msn Windows Live
WebAnniversary Draws. My names are Mrs.ShadeWilliams. I am the Yahoo&Msn
Online Co-coordinator officer assigned towinners on the Yahoo&Msn
sweepstake.You have been awarded the total sumof(£250,000 GBP)Two
HundredAnd Fifty Thousand Great Britain PoundsSterling.

Congratulations once again and wish to here from you through
EventManager for your claims procedures.

You are therefore advised to send the following information to
theEVENTS AGENT to facilitate them and process the Courier of your money.

These are your identification numbers:Batch number...YM09102XN Reff
number..YM35447XN Winning number..YM09788

BENEFICIARY CLAIMS FORM:
1. Full Names:______2. Gender/Sex:_________3. Your Age:_____4.
Occupations:______5. Delivery Address:_____6. State, City:___7.
Country:______8. Nationality:_____9. Your Phone No:____

Contact: Name: Mr.Peter Ade Moore
Phone:+234-802-689-1838
E-mail: claims.eventsmanager@live.com

Mrs. Shade Williams,
Promo Online Co-ordinator.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam