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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:
  • "fiduciary 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.
  • martinshanderson@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: "SUNSHINE GEMS AND JEWELRYS" <sunshinegems12@msn.com>
Date: Sun, 23 Oct 2005 17:31:59 +0000
Subject: NOTIFICATION OF WINNING.

THE NATIONAL LOTTERY
P.O BOX 1010 LIVERPOOL,
L70 1NL
UNITED KINGDOM.
(Customer Services)
Ref: UK/9420X2/68
Batch: 074/05/ZY369
WINNING NOTIFICATION:


We happily announce to you the draw (#05/1026) of the UK NATIONAL
LOTTERY,online
Sweepstakes International program held on Saturday 22th, October,2005 in
liverpool.
Your e-mail address attached to ticket number:56475600545 18,with Serial
number 5368/02 drew the lucky numbers:18-20-22-30-32-39[And( 3 ) as the
Bonus Number] , which subsequently won you the first prize in the lottery
sweeptake.You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum &#8356;
1,831,492.00(One Million Eight Hundred And Thirty One Thousand Four Hundred
And Ninety Two Pounds Sterlings.),Which is equivalent to US$ 3,214,817.91
( Three Million Two Hundred And Fourteen Thousand Eight Hundred And
Seventeen United States Dollars.)in cash credited to file
KTU/9023118308/03.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,you are hereby collecting
your winnings in pounds,which can also be converted to dollars if you choose
to get it in dollars.so your &#8356; 1,831,492.00 (One Million Eight
Hundred And Thirty One Thousand Four Hundred And Ninety Two Pounds
Sterlings.),would be released to you by any of our payment offices in
Europe. Our European agent will immediately commence
the process to facilitate the release of your funds as soon as you contact
him.For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information
confidential till your claims is processed and your money remitted to you in
whatever manner you deem fit to claim your prize. This is part of our
precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this
program. Please be warned. To file for your claim, please contact
our fiduciary agent:
MR MARTINS HANDERSON.
Email; martinshanderson@yahoo.co.uk
Yours faithfully,
PATRICK BRADFORD.
Online coordinator for UK NATIONAL LOTTERY
Sweepstakes International Program NATIONAL LOTTERY
For Verification Of Result;
http://thelotter.com/Results_.asp?Lottery=24

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam