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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:
  • "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: Catherine Woods <uknotification_2006@zuvio.com>
Reply-To: Mr Brian Hunt <claims1agent@netscape.net>
Date: Mon, 29 May 2006 04:36:37 -0400
Subject: YOUR EMAILL ADDRESS WAS SELECTED


28 TANFIELD ROAD
CROYDON.LONDON
Batch: 12/25/0340
Ref: UKL/101OXI/02

UK LOTTERY NOTIFICATION DESK .

We happily announce to you the draw (#1006) of the UK INTERNATIONAL
LOTTERY, online Sweepstakes International program held on May 19th, 2006

Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: 56475600545 188 with
Serial number 5368/02 drew the lucky numbers:
(19)-(22)-(30)-(35)-(44)-(48)bonus #(03).Which subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd
category i.e match 6 plus bonus.

You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of #2,704,534
(Two million seven hundred and four thousand five hundred and thirty four
pound sterling) in cash credited to file KTU/9023118308/03.

This is from a total cash prize of #5,409,068(five million four hundred
and nine thousand and sixty eight pound sterlin). shared amongst the
first two (2) lucky winners in this category i.e Match 6 plus bonus.

All participants for the online version were selected randomly from
World Wide Web sites through computer draw system and extracted from over
100,000 unions, associations, and corporate bodies that are listed
online. This promotion takes place bianually.

Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our European
booklet representative office in Europe as indicated in your play
coupon.In view of this, your #2,704,534 (Two million, seven hundred and four
thousand,five hundred and thirty four pound sterling) would be released
to you by any of our courier department.Our agent will immediately
commence the process to facilitate the release of your funds as soon as you
establish contact.

To file for your claim, please contact our fiduciary agent:

MR .BRIAN HUNT.
E MAIL: claims1agent@netscape.com
Goodluck from me and members of staff of the BRITISH INTERNATIONAL
LOTTERY.


Yours faithfully,
CATHERINE WOODS (MRS.)
Director.International Promotions Unit

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam