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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "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 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.
  • akintayo_australianlottery@yahoo.com.au

Fraud email example:

From: AUSTRALIAN LOTTERY COMMISSION <australianlottery_commission@yahoo.com.au>
Date: Mon, 24 Oct 2005 19:00:30 +1000 (EST)
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS ! ! !


AUSTRALIAN LOTTERY COMMISSION
ADELAIDE,AUSTRALIA
BATCH:EGS/3350477/05
REFERENCE:77/0045/PD

ATTN: Dear Sir/Madam,

RE : AWARD NOTIFICATION FINAL NOTICE.

We are pleased to inform you of the release of the
results of the AUSTRALIAN LOTTERY COMMISSION held on
the 23RD OF SEPTEMBER,2005.
All participants were selected through a computer
ballot system drawn from 25,000 email addresses from
ASIA,AUSTRALIA,NEW ZEALAND,EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA as
part of our International program which we conduct
once every year by our sponsors COCACOLA,PEPSI AND
VODAFONE.

You have therefore been approved for a lump sum payout
of AUD 4,000,000(Four million Australia Dollars) in
cash credited to file REFERENCE
NUMBER:EGS/3662367114/13.
This is from a total cash prize of AUD 100,000,000(One
hundred million Australia Dollars) shared among
twenty-five international winners in the 4th
category.CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Your fund is now deposited with our correspondence
bank.Due to mixed up of some numbers and names,we ask
that you keep this Award from public notice until your
claim has been processed and your money have been
transferred to your nominated account as this is part
of our security protocol to avoid double claims of
funds.

We hope that with a part of your prize,you will take
part in our end of the year HIGHSTAKES 200,000,000
Australia Dollars International lottery.

To begin your Lottery claims,Please contact your
Claims Agent,
MR AKINTAYO ADETOLA of (FORTUNE INTERNATIONAL BANK
PLC) ABUJA-NIGERIA:
akintayo_australianlottery@yahoo.com.au
For processing and remittance of your prize money to a
designated account of your choice.

Remember all prize money must be claimed not later
than 30TH OFNOVEMBER,2005.
After this date all funds will be returned to the
AUSTRALIAN LOTTERY COMMISSION
HEADQUARTERS,ADELAIDE-AUSTRALIA as unclaimed.

NOTE:In order to avoid unnecessary delays,please
remember to quote your reference and batch numbers
including your contacts in every correspondence with
us.

Congratulations once again from all members of our
staff and thank you for being part of our Lottery
program.

Best regards,

Revd. Nicholas Gallagher
(VICE PRESIDENT,ALC)



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam