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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:
  • "claim 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.
  • mrslinda45@freeuk.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Pete Bill" <petebill303@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: petebill303@freeuk.com
Date: Tue, 04 Oct 2005 11:22:16 -1000
Subject: FROM: THE MANAGING DIRECTOR

FROM: THE MANAGING DIRECTOR
EUROPEAN PRIZE AWARD DEPT.
REF:EL3/9318/05
BATCH:EL8/163/EL.
4th oct 2005.

Attn: To Winner

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Lottery Winners
International programs held on the 15/08/2005. Your e-mail address attached
to ticket number :EL-23133 with serial number: EL-123542,batch number:
EL8/163/EL, lottery ref number: EL3/9318/05 and drew lucky numbers
7-1-8-36-4-22 which consequently won in the 1st category, you have therefore
been approved for a lump sum pay out of US$1,500,000.00 (One Million, Five
Hundred Thousand United States dollars) CONGRATULATIONS!!! Due to mix up of
some numbers and names, we ask that you keep your winning information
confidential until your claims has been processed and your money Remitted to
you.

This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and
unwarranted abuse of this program by some participants. All participants
were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from over 40,000
company and 20,000,000 individual email addresses and names from all over
the world. This promotional program takes place every year. We hope with
part of your winning, you will take part in our next year US$20 million
international lottery.

To file for your claim, please contact your Claim Agent:
Name: Mrs. Linda Scott
Email:mrslinda45@freeuk.com
with the following information’s,

1. Full name
2.Phonenumber
3.Address
4.Occupation
5.Sex
6.Age
7.Nationality.

Please note in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications please
remember to quote your reference number and batch numbers in all
correspondence.

Congratulations once more from our members of staff
and thank you for being part of our promotional program.

Mr. Pete Bill,
For Management.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam