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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:
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash)
• 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.
  • sarahadams_45@hotmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "MR RICKY BENSON" <demas2006@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2006 16:32:07 +0700
Subject: asia lottery award


FROM THE INTERNATIONAL PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT
TAKARAKUJI JUMBO DRAWS, CHINA??JAPAN.

Category B Prize Winner!

PRIZE AWARD NOTIFICATION

We are pleased to inform you of the announcement made today, You are among
the winners of the CHINA/JAPAN EMAIL LOTTO PROMOTION; Participants were selected
through a computer ballot system drawn from 2,500,000 email addresses of
individuals and companies from all part of the world as part of our
electronic business Promotions Program.

Note that you/your email address qualified for the draw.

as a result of your visiting various websites we are running the e-business <http://mail.walla.com/?w=/@msg&fid=-1000&f=0&o=6&p=0&q=&id=18820274&prev=18850888&next=18803696>
promotions for. You/Your Company email address, attached to ticket number
343-221-8756, with serial number 454-17 drew the lucky numbers 3, 8, 13, 22,
27, 41 and Bonus number 12 and consequently you won in the Second Category
of the JAPAN FORTUNE LOTTO DRAW.

You have therefore been approved for the payment of the sum of US$500,000,00
in cash, which is the winning amount for the Second category winners. This
is from the total prize money of US$2,650,000.00 shared among the
international winners in the Second category. CONGRATULATIONS!

Please be informed that your CHEQUE of the sum of US$500,000.00 is now with
EVERBRIGHT GUARANTEED TRUST Finance Securities Company insured with your email address,
which won you this prize, therefore you should contact (EVERBRIGHT GUARANTEED TRUST
FINANCE) your agent and give them your full names so that they will
re-insure your CHEQUE under your full names.

To begin your claim, please call your claim agent immediately.

Ms. SARAH ADAMS
FOREIGN SERVICES MANAGER,
COMMERCIAL FINANCE SECURITIES
ADDRESS: HABOUR BUILDING, 35 MARINA STREET BEIJING
EMAIL: sarahadams_45@hotmail.com

NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please
remember to quote your reference and batch numbers and other information
provided above and below in every one of your correspondences with your
claims agent.

Congratulations once again from all our staff and thank you for being part
of our promotions program.

Sincerely,

MR. RICKY BENSON
VICE PRESIDENT INT. PROMOTIONS

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam