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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:
  • "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 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.
  • +448717205780 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "david.sharp543@virgin.net" <david.sharp543@virgin.net>
Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2005 10:02:59 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: BONUS LOTTERY ONLINE WINNING NOTIFICATION


The National LotteryP O Box 1010Liverpool, L70 1NLUNITED KINGDOM(Customer Services)Ref: UK/9420X2/68Batch: 074/05/ZY369Tel: 44 8717205780 Dear Lucky Winner,
BONUS LOTTERY ONLINE WINNING NOTIFICATION We are pleased to notify you the draw (#915) of the UK NATIONALLOTTERY, Online Sweepstakes International Lottery Program held on 15th of October,2005.
Participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn froma pool of over 25,000 names of distinguished professionals drawn fromEurope, America, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Middle-East, parts of Africa,and North & South America as part of our international promotions programme conducted annually to encourage prospective overseas entries. We hope with part of your prize awards, you will take part in our subsequent lottery jackpots.
The result of our computer draw (#915) selected your name and emailaddress attached to e-ticket number: 56475600545 188 with Serial number 5368/02 drew the lucky numbers: 04-14-23-31-35-41(bonus no.24), 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 £760,000,00(Seven Hundred and Six Thousand Pounds Sterling) in cash credited to fileKTU/9023118308/03.This is from a total cash prize of £4,560,000,00 sharedamongst the first Six (6) lucky winners in this category i.e. Match 5plus bonus.
Your prize award has been insured in your name and is ready for claims. To begin your claims therefore, you are advised to expeditiously contact our licensed and accredited claim agent for Overseas Lottery Winners within a period of 21 days (date of this email inclusive) for the processing of your winning and remittance to your designated bank account after allstatutory obligations have been satisfactorily dispensed with.
This is our end of year promotion. Please note that your lucky winningnumber falls within our European booklet representative office inEurope as indicated in your play coupon. In view of this, your £760,000,00 (Seven Hundred and Six Thousand Pounds Sterling) would be released to you by any of our payment offices in Europe.
Please be informed that claims not processed within the stipulatedperiod may be forfeited to the pool without further notice. Our European agent will immediately commence the process to facilitatethe release of your funds as soon as you contact him. You may wish toestablish contact via e-mail or telephone with the particulars provided below citing the batch and reference numbers.
For instant claimsOverseas Claims Unit
United Kingdom Lottery Fiduciary
Contact Person: Mr. John SmithEmail: smithjohn252000@yahoo.co.ukTel: +44 8717205780
Our winners are assured of the utmost standards of confidentiality, andpress anonymity until the end of proceedings, and beyond where they sodesire. Be further advised to maintain the strictest level ofconfidentiality until the end of proceedings to circumvent problemsassociated with fraudulent claims. This is part of our precautionarymeasure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program.
CONGRATULATIONS!!! David SharpThe National LotteryP O Box 1010Liverpool, L70 1NLUNITED KINGDOM Important Notice: Your Email address and winning information wereprovided by INTERNET AND EMAIL CENSORS ASSOCIATION The United Kingdom Lottery accepts no blame for any unwarranted use of email addresses, therefore all blames, complains should be directed to the INTERNET AND EMAIL CENSORSASSOCIATION.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam