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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:
  • "claim 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.
  • +447031909636 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +448704906806 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• 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.
  • willger222@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: "IRISH LOTTO" <irishlotto222@msn.com>
Date: Thu, 19 Jan 2006 13:58:21 +0000
Subject: PRIZE AWARDS WINNING NOTIFICATION

Irish National Lottery
11 G Lower Dorset Street, Dublin 1, Ireland.

RE: LOTTERY PROMOTION PRIZE AWARDS WINNING NOTIFICATION
We are pleased to notify you the draw (#915) of the IRISH NATIONAL LOTTERY,
Online Sweepstakes International Lottery Program held on saturday 14th
January 2006 Participants were selected through a computer ballot system
drawn from a pool of over 25,000 names of distinguished professionals drawn
from Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Middle-East, parts of Africa, and
North & South America as part of our international promotions programme
conducted annually to encourage prospective overseas entries. We hope with
part of your prize awards, you will take part in our subsequent lottery
jackpots.
The result of our computer draw (#915) selected your name and email address
attached to an e-ticket number: 87475600545177 with Serial number 9368/02
drew the lucky numbers: 03, 06, 15, 22, 26, 36,(bonus no.20), which
subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category i.e. match 5 plus
bonus.
You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of £1,991,701 (One
million, nine hundred and ninety-one thousand, seven hundred and one British
Pounds Sterling) in cash credited to file KTU/8023118308/03.This is from a
total cash prize of £7,966,804 shared amongst the first four (4) lucky
winners in this category i.e. Match 5 plus bonus.
Your prize award has been insured in your name and is ready for claims. To
begin your claims therefore, you are advised to expeditiously contact our
licensed and accredited claim agent for Overseas Lottery Winners within a
period of 21 days (date of this email inclusive) for the processing of your
winning and remittance to your designated bank account after all statutory
obligations have been satisfactorily dispensed with.
This promotion takes place weekly for a period of six (6) weeks. 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 £1,991,701 (One million, nine hundred and ninety-one thousand,
seven hundred and one British Pounds Sterling) would be released to you by
any of our payment offices in Europe.
Please be informed that claims not processed within the stipulated period
may be forfeited to the pool without further notice.
Our European agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the
release of your funds as soon as you contact him. You may wish to establish
contact via e-mail or fax with the particulars presented below citing the
serial and e-ticket numbers to this letter between the hours of 10.00am -
4.30pm GMT Monday - Friday
Overseas Claims Unit
United Kingdom Lottery Fiduciary
Contact Person: Mr. William Gerri
Email; willger222@yahoo.co.uk
Telephone; +44-703-190-9636
Fax; +44-870-490-6806

Our winners are assured of the utmost standards of confidentiality, and
press anonymity until the end of proceedings, and beyond where they so
desire. Be further advised to maintain the strictest level of
confidentiality until the end of proceedings to circumvent problems
associated with fraudulent claims. This is part of our precautionary measure
to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
At your disposal, we remain.
Very Truly Yours,
Mr. Alex Clever.
National co-ordinator
Irish National Lottery
11 G Lower Dorset Street, Dublin 1, Ireland.

Important Notice: Your Email address and winning information were provided
by INTERNET AND EMAIL CENSORS ASSOCIATION Irish National Lottery accepts no
blame for any unwarranted use of email addresses, therefore all blames,
complains should be directed to the INTERNET AND EMAIL CENSORS ASSOCIATION.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam