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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
• 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.
  • +447031966035 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +448701358629 (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.
  • info_uklottodirector@mac.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Sir Richard Wilson" <info_notification07@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 16 Oct 2005 02:02:48 +0000
Subject: Attn:Contact Lottery Director For Your Claims

The National Lottery
P.O. Box 1010
Liverpool
L70 1NL
United Kingdom.
Ref: LSUK/2031/8161/05
Batch: R3/A312-59

ANNOUNCEMENT:

Dear Sir/Madam,

We happily announce to you the draw (#1016) of
the UK NATIONAL ONLINE RAFFLE DRAW
Lottery Winners International programs held on the
15/10/2005. Your e-mail address attached to ticket
number :EL-23133 with serial number: EL-123542,batch
number: EL-35,lottery ref number: EL-9318 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 of $2,500,000.00(Two Million, Five Hundred
Thousand, United States Dollars) credited to file KTU/9023118308/03.
made available from a total cash prize of $125 Million Dollars, shared
amongst the first Fifty (50) lucky winners in this category.
All participants for the online version were selected randomly
from the World Wide Web through a computer draw system
and extracted from over 100,000 unions, associations, and
corporate bodies that are listed online. This promotion takes
place every year. Please note that your lucky Winning Number falls
within our European booklet representative office in Europe
as indicated in your play coupon. In view of this,
your $2,500,000.00 would be released to you by any of our payment
offices in Europe.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

To file for your claim, please contact
Mr. William Brackley (Lottery Director)
The National Lottery
P.O. Box 1010
Liverpool
L70 1NL
United Kingdom.
Tel: +44-703-196-6035,+44-703-196-6038
Fax: +44-870-135-8629
Email: info_uklottodirector@mac.com
Provide him with the information below:
1. Full Names:
2. Address:
3. Marital Status:
4. Occupation:
5. Age:
6. Sex:
7. Nationality:
8. Country of Residence:
9. Telephone Number:
10. Mobile/Cell Phone Number:
11. Fax Number:
12. Best time to call you in the morning:
13. Best time to call you in the night:
14. Email Address:
15. Valid Mode of Identification:
16. Draw Number above: 1016
For precautionary measures, you are advised to keep your
winning information confidential till your claims is processed
and your money remitted to you.This is part of our Policy
to avoid double claiming and unwarranted
abuse of this program. Please be warned.
Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than
22/10/2005.After this date all unclaimed funds will be included in
the next stake.
Please note in order to avoid unnecessary delays and
complications please remember to quote your reference
number and batch numbers in all correspondence.
Furthermore, should there be any change of address do
inform our agent as soon as possible.
Congratulations once more from our members of staff
and thank you for being part of our promotional
program.
Note:Anybody under the age of 16 is automatically
disqualified.
yours Sincerely,
Sir Richard Wilson.
Online Co-ordinator for U.K NATIONAL LOTTERY
Sweepstakes International Program.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam