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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
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• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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.
  • tom_khuges@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: "Queen Owolabi" <owolabi@segunbanker.com>
Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2006 14:47:32 +0000
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION(954)

UK-LOTTO Headquarters:
The Marina Offices,
St Peters Yacht Basin,
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 1HX
England
Customer Service
Ref: UK/9420X2/68
Batch: 074/05/ZY369
           
                              WINNING NOTIFICATION
We happily announce to you the draw of the UK NATIONAL LOTTERY, online Sweepstakes International program held on 17th of Jan, 2006 in LIVERPOOL UNITED-KINGDOM.
Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: 56475600545 188 with Serial number 5368/02 drew the lucky numbers: 04.10.14.21.32.49 [44] Bonus Ball which subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category.
    You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of  £250,000(Two  hundred and fifty thousand great britain pounds) in cash credited to file ktu/9023118308/03.This is from a total cash prize of   £1,000,000,00 GBP,  shared amongst the first (4) lucky winners in this category.
    All participants for the online version were selected randomly from World Wide Web sites through computer draw system and extracted from over 100,000 unions, associations, and corporate bodies that are listed online. 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 25.000.00(GBP) will be released to you by any of our payment offices in Europe. Our European 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 claim is processed and your money has been 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. Please be warned.
  To file for your claim, please contact our fiduciary agent:
Mr. TOM HUGHES

Email:  tom_khuges@yahoo.co.uk
with your claims verification information:
FULL NAMES OF BENEFICIARY:........................
CONTACT ADDRESS:..................................
CITY/STATE:.......................................
COUNTRY:..........................................
NATIONALITY:......................................
SEX…………………....AGE:...................
TEL NO:...........................................
AMOUNT WON:.......................................
REFENCE NO:................BATCH NO:..............
LUCKY NO:..................TICKET NO..............
SERIAL NO:.................LOTTERY DATE:..........

Congratulations once again from all members and staffs of this program. Thank you for being part of our promotional lottery programs.

Sincerely,
MRS QUEEN  T. OWOLABI
Online coordinator for UK NATIONAL LOTTERY
Sweepstakes International Program

 

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam