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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "claims office" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
• 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.
  • +447031862215 (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.
  • msw.megallottery@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: =?utf-8?q?Maria=20James?= <m_james13@yahoo.in>
Reply-To: mariajamesmswmega@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Mon, 29 Sep 2008 08:10:57 +0530 (IST)
Subject: MARIA JAMES.


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: m_james13@yahoo.in



- We are pleased to inform you of the announcement today of winners of the MSW MEGA JACKPOT LOTTO WINNINGS PROGRAMS held on 15th August 2008.your e-mail address, is attached to winning number 20-12DEC-2007-02MSW, With serial number S/N-00168 drew the lucky numbers 887-13-865-37-10-83, and consequently won in the first lottery category. You have therefore been approved for lump sums pay out of GBP 1,800,000.00 POUNDS in cash Credited to file REF NO: BIC/01-MSW-L/200-26937 this is from total prize money of GBP 9,000,000.00 POUNDS, shared among the Five (5) international lucky winners in this category. Your E-mail addresses were selected through our Microsoft computer ballot system drawn from 50,000 Individual Names, 30,000 companies names from each continent, as part of International "E-MAIL" Promotions Program, Which is conducted annually for our prominent MS WORD. Your payment has been insured under the British Insurance commission (BIC) with REF NO:BIC/01-MSW-L/200-26937, Please note that, you are to contact your claims officer via email. you have the right to call the Claim Payment Officer Steve Richard on Telephone number:+44-703-1862215 to confirm your winning, as he will provide you with the necessary details on how to claim Your prize. You are to keep your ref.number and batch number from the public, until you have been processed and your prize money delivered to you. Be informed that all prize money must be claimed not later than two weeks of this Notification, All funds not Claimed on or before the fixed date will be with-held accordingly. Do contact the Claim Officer immediately for further guidelines via E-mail: msw.megallottery@yahoo.co.uk by forwarding the verification data to him. VERIFICATION 1, Full Name:.......................2, Full Contact Address:..................3, Tel:/Fax:....................4, Country of Origin:.......................5, Date of Birth:.......................6, Sex:....................7, Occupation:...................Best Regards Maria James For MSW MEGA LOTTO PROMO UK;

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam