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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "part of our security protocols" (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 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.
  • claiming_agent@ourwest.com

Fraud email example:

From: "award 2005" <mr_award2005@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 08 Oct 2005 16:02:17 +0000
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!!!

THE DESK OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
NATIONAL LOTTERY PROMOTIONS/PRIZE GIVING AWARD
AVENUE KWAME N'KRUMAH
OUAGADOUGOU BURKINA FASO.
DATE: 6th October 2005.

DEAR LUCKY WINNER
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the
INTERNATIONAL POOLS LOTTERY RAFFLE DRAW International programs held on the
5th of
january,2005.
Your e-mail address was attached to ticket number 6325698-44596-222 with
serial number 410-32659 drew lucky numbers 4014-236985744-596 which
consequently won in the 2nd category, you have therefore been approved for
lump sum payment of 850,000.00 euros.(Eight Hundred and fifty Thousand
Euros).
CONGRATULATIONS!!
Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep your winning
information confidential until your claim has been processed and your money
Remitted to you.This is part of our security protocols 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 20,000 company and 30,000, individual's email addresses from all over
the world . This promotional program takes place every year,This lottery was
promoted and sponsored by
Internationalsoftware organisation committee and national lottery united
kingdom, we hope with part of your winning you will take part in our next
year (1 million) international lottery.
To file for your claim, please contact our claim agent Email :
(claiming_agent@ourwest.com)

CONGRATULATION !!!
Contact your claim agent for due processing and remittance of your prize
money to a designated account of your choice.
Remember, you must contact your claims officer not later than 16Th of
October 2005.After this date,all funds will be returned as unclaimed. NOTE:
In order to avoid unnecessary delays and
complications, please remember to quote your reference numbers in every one
of your correspondences with your officers. Furthermore, should there be any
change of your
address, do inform your claims officer as soon as possible.
Congratulations again from all our staff and thank you forbeing part of our
promotions program.
We wish you continued good fortunes.
Best regards.
MR. ANDREWS FLEGH

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam