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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "fiduciary 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!

Fraud email example:

From: Mr Bill Harris <billarisasociate8@yahoo.it>
Reply-To: billarisasociate@sify.com
Date: Wed, 3 May 2006 13:03:19 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: ATTENTION: To Whom it may Concern


ATTENTION: To Whom it may Concern


ATTENTION: Dear Sir/Madam,


I am Mr.Bill Harris the fiduciary agent assigned to your case. I wish

to Congratulate you on your victory, you are a lucky person to have won

this lottery. Your email address was amongst those chosen this quarter

from our new java-based software that randomly selects email addresses

from the web from which winners are selected. You are required to

forward the following details to help facilitate the processing of your

claims and certificate which will facilitate the release of your winnings.


Your winning price is to the tune of Two Million Euros.


1. Full names and Addresses.

2. Phone number.

3. Fax number.

4. Occupation.

5. Sex.

6. Age.

7. Nationality.


You are advised to forward this information as soon as possible to

enable us attend to your winnings. Our firm has been contracted to handle

payments on your behalf, once we confirm your information, your payments

would be processed. Everything was done in such a way that our payments

mode would meet the standards set by the Lottery boards.After you have

sent down these information, a certificate will be prepared for you.


This is to be your proof of winning from this office to the payment

center before they release your funds.


Be advised that your winnings would be paid to you in Four(4)

installments of 500,000.00 Euros {Five Hundred Thousand Euros}. This is done

because of the amount won by you. This money would be paid to you on

instalmental basis via the Correspondent Bank of the Lottery promoters.


You are advised to keep your winning numbers secret to avoid unscrupulous

elements from taking advantage of the situation.

Once again, congratulations.


Yours faithfully,

MR. BILL HARRIS

bill harris & Associates

50 Broadway

Westminster

London

SW1H OBL

United Kingdom


PRACTICE AREAS:-

CONVEYANCING


The legal aspects of buying, selling and leasing

houses and property. We are able to provide an

indication of likely costs in relation to domestic

conveyancing.


CRIMINAL


General advice on all aspects of Criminal cases

including dealing with the prosecutor. Registered with

British Aid Board to provide criminal legal

assistance. Preparing for and conducting cases in all

of the Scottish Criminal courts. Preparing for and

conducting Children's Hearings.


CLAIMS


All work relating to compensation arising from any

accident or injury, including Criminal Injuries

Compensation and lottery winnings.


CIVIL COURT


All work relating to cases involving Divorce,

Children, Interdict, Housing, Employment, Recovery,

Contract and Debt.


EXECUTRY

Preparing wills and winding up affairs after death.

BillHarris & Associates

Mr Bill Harris

- Mr Bill Harris

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam