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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "million us dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
• 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.
  • +2348054720687 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • peter_lottoagent@hotmail.com
  • peter_lottoagent2@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: Patrick Otoole <patrick_lotto034@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 21 Feb 2006 04:27:13 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: FINAL NOTICE


FROM THE DESK OF THE VICE PRESIDENT.
THE NATIONAL LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD.
MR PATRICK OTOOLE

BATCH: EGS/ 22504002/04: REFERENCE: 15/0018/IPD

ATTN: WINNER.

RE: WINNING NOTIFICATION, FINAL NOTICE.

We are pleased to inform you, that as a result of our RECENT LOTTERY DRAWS HELD on the 31st of January. 2006.Your e-mail address attached to ticket number:085-12876077-09 with serial number:51390-0 drew lucky numbers:03-05-12-14-38 which consequently won in the 5th category.you have therefore been approved fora lump sum pay of (ONE MILLION US DOLLARS ONLY) in cash credited to file with REF: º.EGS/3662367114/13.Note that
all participants in this lottery program have been selected randomly through a computer ballot system drawn from over 20,000 Official and 30,000,000 individual email addresses from all search engines and web sites,from Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, North and South America, Middle East and Africa, as part of our international Promotions Program. This promotional program takes place every year,and is promoted and sponsored by eminent personalities like the Sultan of Brunei,Bill Gates of
microsoft inc and other corporate organizations.This is to encourage the use of the internet and computers worldwide.Your fund is now deposited with ALPHA BANK LTD. and insured in your name.
For security purpose and clarity,we advise that you keep your winning information confidential until your claims have been processed and your money remitted to your account.This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claims and unwarranted abuse of this program by our participants.We look forward to your active participation in our next 4 million dollars slot.To begin the processing of your prize you are to contact your claims agent through our accredited Prize Transfer agents as stated below:
MR. PETER UGOMA
E MAIL: peter_lottoagent@hotmail.com
CC: peter_lottoagent2@yahoo.com
TEL: +234-805-472-0687

CALL HIM IMMEDIATELY WITH HIS ABOVE DIRECT PHONE NUMBER,IF YOU ARE CALLING FROM THE USA THIS IS HOW YOU WILL DIAL 011-234-805-472-0687.ADD YOUR COUNTRY CODE IF YOU ARE DIALLING FROM OUTSIDE THE USA THEN THE
NUMBER.
When you contact him, please provide him with your secret BATCH
NO,SERIAL NO.You are also advised to provide him with the under listed information as soon as possible:
1. Name in full
2. Address
3. Nationality
4. Age
5. Occupation
6. Phone/Fax
All winnings must be claimed not later than one month After the date of this notice.Please note,in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications,remember to quote your reference number and batch numbers in all correspondence. furrthermore,should there be any change of address do inform our agent as soon as possible.

Congratulations!!!once more and thank you for being part of our
promotional program.
Also note that 10% of your fund will be going to the urban lottery after you must have received the fund into your account.
Sincerely,
MR PATRICK OTOOLE.
VICE PRESIDENT.
URBAN LOTTERY.




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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam