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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:
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "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)
  • ",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)
• 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!

Fraud email example:

From: "Kate Wise" <shobha.sehgal@vlcc.co.in>
Date: Mon, 09 Mar 2009 18:53:08 +0530 (IST)
Subject: Contact Mr Ben Brown

Ref: UK/9420X2/688
Batch: 074/05/ZY369


UKONLINE 2009 RESULTS UPDATE!


We happily announce to you the draw (#966) of the UNITED
KINGDOM HIGHSTAKE ONLINE INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY, online
Sweepstakes International program held on 8th March
2009.Your e-mail address attached to ticket number:
56475600545 188 with Serial number 5368/02 drew the lucky
numbers: (05)-(21)-(23)-(28)-(40)bonus # (26).Which
subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category i.e
match 5 plus bonus. You have therefore been approved to
claim a total sum of £1,000,000.00 (One Million pounds
sterlings)in cash credited to file KTU/9023118308/03.

To file for your claim, please contact our security/
fiduciary agent:
**************************************************************

Name of Agent: MR BEN BROWN
City/Country: London, United Kingdom.

Email: benbrown_20009@live.com

You are also advised to provide him with the under listed
information
as soon as possible:
1. Name in full
2. Address
3. Nationality
4. Age
5. Occupation
6. Phone/Fax


Yours faithfully,

Mrs Kate Wise
Sweepstakes International Program.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam