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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:
  • "claims 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.
  • +448701352958 (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.
  • kateharry01@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "promo manager" <promo_manager12@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 17:47:48 +0000
Subject: Congratulations (contact your claims agent)

HILLCREST LOTTERY (UK)
FROM: THE MANAGER,
LOTTERY COORDINATOR,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT.
REF:NM/BC921245/KY13.
BATCH: NM/207161/KOP.

ATTN: WINNER

RE:FINAL AWARD WINNING NOTIFICATION:
We are pleased to inform you of the release, of the long awaited
results of the GOLDEN STRIKE SWEEPSTAKE LOTTERY/INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION
PROGRAMES UK,held on the 21th of OCT, 2005.You were entered as dependent
clients with:
Reference Number:NM/BC921245/KY13,
and Batch number NM/207161/KOP.
Your email address attached to the ticket number: 46 93 9 that drew the
lucky winning number, which consequently won the sweep take in the
second category,in four parts.
You have been approved for a payment of 850,000.00 Euros(EIGHT HUNDRED
AND FIFTY THOUSAND EURO.) in cash credited to Security file reference
number:IPL/4249859609/WP1.
This is from a total cash prize of FIVE MILLION EURO Shared among the
ten international winners in second categories.
Congratulations!!!!!
All participants were selected through a Multi international computer
ballot system drawn from 98,000 (Ninety eight thousand) names of email
users around the world,as part of our international promotion
programmes.
Your fund is now deposited with a FINANCE SECURITY, it has been insured
in your name. In your best interest and also to avoid mix up of numbers
and names of any kind, we request that you keep the entire details of
your winnings "strictly confidential" from public notice until the
process of transferring your claims is been completed, and your funds
remitted to your account.This is part of our security protocol to avoid
double Claiming/unscrupulous acts by Participants/non-participants of this
programme.
*******************************************************************************************************************************************
To begin your claim,do file for the release of your winning award by
contacting our accredited agent: NOTE: For easy reference and
identification, see above your reference and Batch numbers. Remember to
quote
these numbers in every of your correspondence with your claims agent.
Please contact your claims agent immediately for due processing and
remittance of your prize money to a designated bank account of your
choice.
Mrs Kate Harry , TEL/FAX: +44-870 1352958 or
E-mail:kateharry01@yahoo.com
*******************************************************************************************************************************************
NOTE: All winnings must be notorized to complete the claim process,
winners will be referred to a Foreign Transfer Manager,to have their
winnings notorized. Winners are to cover the legal charges of the
notorization and not HILLCREST LOTTERY.
They are your agent, and responsible for the processing and transfer of
your award winning fund to you. Remember,your winning must be claimed
not later than 20th Nov, 2005. After this date, funds might be returned
to the Promoters as unclaimed. Furthermore, should there be any change
in your address, do inform your claims agent as soon as possible.
Mr.Gabelo Patrick,
(Lottery Coordinator)
N.B. Any breach of Confidentiality on the part of the winners will
result to disqualification. Please do not reply to this mail box.Do contact
your claims agent urgently.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam