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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.

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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)
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "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.
  • +4407908242518
• 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.
  • deskofficer1@excite.com

Fraud email example:

From: "MRS. KALYNA STILES" <1deskofficer@myway.com>
Reply-To: deskofficer1@excite.com
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 17:14:00 +0100
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!!!


INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT
UK PRIME LOTTERY SERVICE
Macclesfield, United Kingdom.
Customer's Service Center
Ref Number: UK/910/16454
Batch Number: VC/32/ID1141

Dear Sir/Madam,

We happily announce to you the result of the UK PRIME LOTTERY programs
held ON the 14th of OCTOBER in ENGLAND AND WALES. Your e-mail address
attached to ticket number 5224652456UT with serial number 0098/UK0204,
batch
number VC/32/ID1141,lottery ref number UK/910/16454 and drew lucky
numbers 03-01-15-20-34-33-07 which consequently won in the 2nd
category,
you have therefore been approved for a lump sum payout of
£850,000(Eight
hundred and fifty thousand pounds sterling)in cash credited to file
KLTT/KTU/2004ETN.This is from a total cash prize of £8.5 Million
Pounds,
shared amongst the first TEN (10) lucky winners in this second
category.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep your
winning information confidential until your claims has been Processed
and
your money Remitted to you. This is part of our security Protocol to
avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program.Be informed
that all participants were selected through a computer ballot system
drawn from over 40,000 companies and 20,000,000 individual email
addresses
from all over the world. This promotional program takes place every
year
and it is promoted and sponsored by Association of software producers.
To file for your claim, please contact our fiduciary agent:
=======================================================
MR vincent Gonzales
UK PRIME LOTTERY
Macclesfield, United Kingdom
Email: deskofficer1@excite.com
Phone: +44(0)7908242518
Fax : +44-2081817888
======================================================
Remember, all winning in this second category must be claimed not later
than 6th of November, 2005. After this date all unclaimed funds will be
included in the next stake. Please note in order to avoid unnecessary
delays and complications please remember to quote your reference number
and batch numbers in all correspondence.
Furthermore, should there be any change of address do inform our agent
as soon as possible.
Congratulations once more from our members of staff and thank you for
being part of our promotional program. Note that you must contact your
claims agent within one week of receipt of this notice.
Note: Anybody under the age of 18 is automatically disqualified.
Sincerely,
MRS. KALYNA STILES
UK PRIME LOTTO Coordinator.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam