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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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:
  • "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.
  • cordinatorandrew1978@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: "GLOBAL LOTTERY PROMOTION" <globallotterypromotion1@msn.com>
Date: Wed, 15 Feb 2006 10:48:08 +0000
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS

GLOBAL LOTTO PROMOTIONS
                             P O Box 1010
                          Liverpool, L70 1NL
                            UNITED KINGDOM
                          (Customer Services) 

Ref:UK/9420X2/68 
Batch:074/05/ZY369

Date:29th January,2006                          

                       

                                                                                                                                               

                                                           

                                    

 

           "LOTTERY  WINNER  NOTIFICATION   LETTER"

We happily announce to you the draw  (996) of the GLOBAL LOTTO PROMOTIONS,online Sweepstakes International program held 15th January 2006.

Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: 4429-4005-6001 with  
Pin number 70003500183S drew the lucky numbers: 07 . 20 . 22 . 23 . 34 . 37 . [38] Bonus Ball which subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category i.ematch5 plus bonus.

You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of
€1,500,000 (One Million Five hundred thousand Euros)in cash credited to file  KTU/9023118308/03.

This is from a total cash prize of €12,500,000 shared amongst the first five(5)lucky winners in this category i.e Match 5 plus bonus.
All participants for the online version were selected randomly from 
WorldWide Web sites through computer draw system and extracted from over 100,000unions,associations, and corporate bodies that are listed online.This promotion takes place weekly.

Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our European bookletrepresentative office in Europe as indicated in your play coupon.

In  view of this, your €1,500,000 (One Million Five hundred thousand Euros)would be released to you by any of ourpayment 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 your claim is processed and your money 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 claims agent:

Mr.Andrew Smith

Email:cordinatorandrew1978@yahoo.co.uk

Goodluck from me and members of staff of the Global Lotto Promotions.
Yours faithfully,

Online coordinator for Global Lotto promotions,
Sweepstakes International Program.
Open 7 days 8am-8pm

NB:ATTENTION:YOU ARE ADVICE TO WAIT FOR A RESPONSE WITHIN SEVEN WORKING DAYS.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam