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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.
  • directorsmith@cooperation.net

Fraud email example:

From: "Jeffrey Bin" <ukonlinelotto05@msn.com>
Date: Sat, 29 Oct 2005 04:00:44 +0000
Subject: YOUR WINNING NOTIFICATION:FROM UK LOTTERY INTL.

PRIME LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL
Customer Service
Ref:PLI/4080318306/04
Batch: 074/05/ZY369

WINNING NOTIFICATION

We happily announce to you the draw of the UK-LOTTO Sweepstake
Lottery International programs held on the 26th OCTOBER, 2005.
in london, uk.
Your e-mail address attached to ticket number:5368/02 with Serial
number:564
75600545 188 drew the lucky numbers: 19-6-26-17-35-7, which
subsequently
won you
the lottery in the 2nd category.You have therefore been approved to
claim a
total sum of
US$12,500,000.00 (Twelve million,Five Hundred Thousand United States
Dollars) in cash credited to file ktu/9023118308/03.This is from a
total
cash prize of
US $ 50 Million dollars, shared amongst the first four (4) lucky
winners in
this category.
All participants were selected randomly from World Wide Web site
through
computer draw
system and extracted from over 100,000 companies. This promotion takes
place
annually.
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
US$12,500,000.00 (Twelve
million,Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) would be released
to
you by our payment
office .
Our 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 by some unscrupulous elements. Please be warned.
To file for your claim, please contact our fiduciary agent



Mr: smith eze
Email:directorsmith@cooperation.net


To avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please quote your
reference/batch numbers in
any correspondences with us or our designated agent.
Congratulations once more from all members and staffs of this
program. Thank you for being part of our promotional lottery
program.
Sincerely,
jeffrey bin.
UK-LOTTO Co-ordinator.



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam