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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 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.
  • ukclaimsagent7@excite.com

Fraud email example:

From: info_irishlottery@nasss.com
Date: Thu, 23 Feb 2006 23:44:08 +0000
Subject: YOUR IRISH EMAIL WINNING NOTIFICATION


Email:ukclaimsagent7@excite.com OR ukclaimsagent7@walla.com

That way your Winnings Verifications Form can be prepared for you. Note that all prize funds must be claimed not later than Two Weeks.After this date all funds will be returned to the LOTTERY TREASURY as unclaimed. In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please endeavor to quote your Reference Number( LSUK/2031/8161/05) and Batch Number(R3/A312-59)in every correspondence with your agent. Furthermore, should there be any change in your address, do inform your claims agent as soon as possible.

For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidentialtill your claims 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.This is very real, Please be warned.

Good luck from me and members of staff of the IRISH LOTTERY.

Yours faithfully,
ANITA WILLIAMS (MRS).

Online Co-ordinator for IRISH LOTTERY SWEEPSTAKEPROGRAMME.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam