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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")
• 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.
  • claimsagencies@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: "Universal Lotto Winners" <universallottowinners11@msn.com>
Date: Sun, 05 Feb 2006 01:39:56 +0000
Subject: Congratulations...You are our Winner for Last Months Coupon!!!

Dear Winner,

We are happy to inform you that,You are the winner for the previous
month coupon with (UNIVERSAL LOTTO COMPANY).The winning ticket was selected
from a Data Base of Internet Email Users, from which your Email Address came
out as the winning coupon.

We hereby contact you to claim the winning amount quickly as this is a
monthly lottery. Failure to claim your win will result into the reversion of
the fund to our following month lottery.You are therefore requested to
contact immediately your Claim agent below quoting your winning number
:ROL-05215796.

To begin your claim, please contact your claim agent;
Name: Mr. ABRAHAM CHURCHIL
Email:claimsagencies@yahoo.co.uk
Web: www.uklotto.com
London Regional Office:
17 Kirk Land Walk N17UR
United Kingdom.


General Note:

You are to keep all winning details away from the general public to avoid
fraudulent claim from a third party, any breach of confidentiality by
direct/indirect exposure of winning details/information will lead to an
irreversible disqualification.
We hope to speedily process all winnings, and remitt funds to you
within 7 business days after the finalisation of claims with attached
agent/foreign service director.
In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please include phone
number, date of birth, reference/batch number for verification, in every
correspondence regarding your claims processing. Furthermore, should there
be any change in your address, do inform your claims agent as soon as
possible.

Congratulations once again from all members of our staff and thanks for
being part of our promotions program.

Best Regards,
Mrs. Janelle Mims.
[CLAIMS CORODINATOR]

*************************************************************************************************************
CONTACTS CLAIMS AGENT DIRECTLY FOR FURTHER PROCESS AND COLLECTION OF
FUNDS
*******************************************************************************

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam