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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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)
  • "million united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
• 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!

Fraud email example:

From: "GRACE ALLENS" <graceallens09@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: gfm_securities01@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2006 06:57:40 +0100
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Dear Sir/Madam
 
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Lottery Winners International
programs held on the 09/01/2006.
 
Your e-mail address attached to ticket number 275114656588-6410 with serial
number 5798-510,batch number 466270566,lottery reference number 6676629735n
and drew lucky numbers 8-60-88-23-66-45 which consequently won in the 1st
category, you have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of US$1Million
(One Million United States Dollars)
 
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 by some participants.
 
All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from
over 20,000 company and 30,000,000 individual email addresses and names
from all over the world. This promotional program takes place every three-years.
 
This lottery was promoted and sponsored by Bill Gates, President of the
World Largest software, we hope with part of your winning you will take
part in our next year USD50 million international lottery. To file for your
claim, please contact the undersigned for further clarification and how
to make your claims.
 
RICHARD PHILLIPS
GLOBAL FINANCE MAMAGEMENT & SECURITIES
23/24 MARINA STREET,LAGOS-NIGERIA

 
Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than 20th of Feb.2006. After
this date all unclaimed funds will be included in the next stake,and all
payments shall be made via online banking system.
 
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: Anybody under the age of 18 is automatically disqualified.
 
Sincerely yours,
 
Mrs.Grace Brown.
Lottery Coordinator.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam