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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:
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
• 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 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.
  • laura_banks06@myway.com

Fraud email example:

From: "manny walter" <uklottery001@winnings-nl.com>
Date: Tue, 04 Oct 2005 00:22:12 +0000
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION!!!

BRITISH LOTTERY HEADQUARTERS:
Customer Service
an Affiliate of THE ROCKEFELLER
FOUNDATION
28 TANFIELD ROAD,
CROYDON.LONDON

Ref:BTL/4910X1/04
Batch: 12/25/0340


WINNING NOTIFICATION:

We happily announce to you the draw of the BRITISH Sweepstake Lottery
International programs held on the 1st of April 2004 in London.Your e-mail
address attached to ticket number:69475600545-721 with Serial number 8867/04
drew the lucky numbers:31-6-26-13-35-7,which subsequently won you the
lottery in the 2nd category.You are therefore,been approved to claim a total
sum of US$2,500,000.00 (Two million, five hundred thousand, United
StatesDollars) in cash credited to file KPC/9080118308/02.This is from a
total cash prize of US $125 Million dollars, sharedamongst the first Fifty
(50) lucky winners in this category.

Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our European booklet
representative office in Europe as indicated in our play coupon. In view of
this, your US$2,500,000.00 (Two million, five hundred thousand,United tates
Dollars) would be released to you by our affiliate bank in London.Our agent
will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your
funds to you as soon as you make contact with her.

All participants were selected randomly from World Wide Web site through
computer draw system and extracted from over 100,000 companies.This
promotion takes place annually. For security reasons,you are advised to keep
your winning information confidential till your claims is processed and your
money remitted to you in whatever manner you deem fit to claim your prize.
This is a part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and
unwarranted abuse of this program by some unscrupulous elements.Please be
warned.To file for your claim, please contact our fiduciary agent with the
below details for processing of your claims.

AGENT: Mrs Laura Banks
Email:laura_banks06@myway.com

To avoid unnecessary delays and complications,please quote your
reference/batch numbers in any correspondences with us or our designated
agent.Congratulations
once more from all members and staffs of this program.Thank you for being
part of our promotional lottery program.

Sincerely,
Micheal Ronin.
BRITISH LOTTERY ZONAL ONLINE CO-ORDINATOR

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam