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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 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.
  • prize_collection_dpt@excite.com

Fraud email example:

From: "rose wood" <lottoserv@workmailbox.net>
Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2005 17:28:04 +0000
Subject: NOTIFICATION OF WINNINGS

The National Lottery
EURO MILLIONS PROMO/PRIZE:DEPARMENT
Brookmount House
68-70 ChanLos Banquent
Covent Garden, London, WC2N 5LP
Uk.(Customer Services)
Ref: UK/9420X2/68
Batch: 074/05/ZY369

FINAL WINNING NOTIFICATION:
Dear Lucky Winner,
RE: BONUS LOTTERY PROMOTION PRIZE AWARDS WINNING
NOTIFICATION

We are pleased to notify you the draw of the EURO
MILLIONS PROMO/PRIZE:DEPARMENT Online Sweepstakes
International Lottery
Program held on Friday June 10 2005. Participants were
selected through a computer ballot system drawn from a
pool of over 25,000 names of distinguished
professionals drawn from Europe, 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 selected your name and
email address attached to e-ticket number: 56475600545
188 with
Serial number 5368/02 drew the lucky
numbers:03,09,35,39,42,with lucky stars (01),(08),
which subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd
category i.e.5+1 star Category.

You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum
of ?1,737,262 (One million, Seven hundred and thirty
seven thousand,
Two hundred and sixty two euro) in cash credited to
file KTU/9023118308/03.This is from a total cash prize
shared amongst the first Six (6) lucky winners in this
category i.e.5+1 star Category 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 all statutory obligations
have been satisfactorily dispensed with.

This promotion takes place weekly. 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 ?1,737,262 (One
million, Seven hundred and thirty seven thousand, Two
hundred and sixty two euro) would be
released to you by any of our payment offices in Europe.

Please be informed that claims not processed within the
stipulated period may be forfeited to the pool without
further notice.Our European agent will immediately
commence the
process to  facilitate the release of your funds as
soon as you contact him. You may wish to establish
contact via e-mail with the particulars presented below
citing the batch and reference numbers to this letter
between the hours of 8.00am - 7.30pm on Monday through
Friday
Overseas Claims United Kingdom Lottery Fiduciary
Contact Person: MR. MICHEAL SANTOS
Email: prize_collection_dpt@excite.com

Our winners are assured of the utmost standards of
confidentiality, and press anonymity until the end of
proceedings, and
beyond where they so desire. Be further advised to
maintain the  strictest level of confidentiality until
the end of
proceedings to  circumvent problems associated with
fraudulent claims. This is part
of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming
and unwarranted
abuse of this program.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
At your disposal, we remain.
Very Truly Yours,

Mrs. Mary Jones.
The National Lottery
EURO MILLIONS PROMO/PRIZE:DEPARMENT
Brookmount House
68-70 ChanLos Banquent
Covent Garden, London, WC2N 5LP

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam