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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "processing fee" (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
• 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.
  • +447040124052 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Walter Smith" <wsmith@abfin-uk.net>
Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2006 14:12:46 +0000
Subject: Further Information

ATTN: Jackqeline Mutambara

Dear Sir/Madam,
I am in the receipt of your last email. Checking with information from our
database we wish to confirm to you that you emerged one of the winners in
the BRITISH LOTTO PLUS Third Category draw with File Reference Number:
BLP20-147-2, and Lotto Batch Number: A14736.
The Third category draw under which you won is a promotional draw; hence
participants do not have to purchase tickets to enter for this draw. Names
and email addresses of individuals and companies are randomly selected from
various lottery companies email database from around the world and entered
into the draw. Note that the Third category draw is funded from the proceeds
of ticket sales in the First category draw and Second category draw also
organized by BRITISH LOTTO PLUS.
We; Alpha Beta Finance, act as financial handlers for BRITISH LOTTO PLUS. As
a fact we are the claims agent in charge of the disbursement of lottery
winnings in the BRITISH LOTTO PLUS draws.
Be informed that your winnings amounting to £2,200,000.00, is already in our
possession and shall be processed upon meeting our requirements which is the
filling/submission of a Claims Form and payment of a stipulated processing
fee to cover expenses ranging from the transfer of your winnings, to
insurance of documents such as your Prize Claim Certificate, our handling
charges, amongst other cost.
Kindly confirm receipt of this email so that I can instruct you about the
claims process. Winners
have a right as to the informations that are released.
Congratulations once more, I shall be awaiting your confirmation email.

Truly yours,
MR. WALTER SMITH,
FOREIGN SECTION MANAGER,
ALPHA BETA FINANCE.
PHONE: +44-70-4012-4052
FAX: +44-20-7504-8763



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam