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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:
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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• 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!
• 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.
  • couttsjm@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "couttsjm" <couttsjm@terra.com.mx>
Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2006 20:09:36 -0600
Subject: Re: YOUR AWARD LUCKY WINNING NOTICE TODAY 13/6/2006


Ref: HWS/204818308/05.
Bacth:1182/205/JCTTS.

Re: Awards Winning Notification Notice

My name is Mr James Coutts fiduciary agent assigned to your case. We are pleased to inform you of the release today the 13th of Juno 2006 of the New Java Sweepstake Lottery email addresses random selection Programs held on the 15th May of 2006. Your ticket number 081-4008 4550- 6, with serial Number 104-55 drew the lucky numbers 121555 -35-43-10, and consequently you won the lottery in the 6th category. You have therefore been approved for a sum of US$2,500.000.00 in cash credited.
This is from total prize money of US$30,000,000.00 shared among the twenty international winners in this category. All participants were selected through a New Java computer system, you won this lottery because online subscription was made for you, some names were selected via the net and lottery was played on their behalf to Steve the Global Internet day. This is part of program to promote Internet in the world.
It is in conjunction with the worldwide web providers. The names were selected from 50,000 names from Australia, New Zealand, America, Europe, North America, Asia and Africa as part of International promotions Program, which is conducted annually. You are advised to keep your winning numbers secret to avoid unscrupulous elements from taking advantage of the situation. Once again, congratulations.
Right now you are advice to fill below data for more details and collection of your prize.
1. Full names.
2. Phone number.
3. Fax number.
4. Occupation.
5. Sex.
6. Age.
7. Nationality.

Mr. James Coutts
James Coutts & Associates
Academy of Saint Martin in the Fields
Raine House, Rainde Street
London E1W 3RJ
United Kingdom
Tel :44-7031942696
Fax :44-7031942696
Email :couttsjm@yahoo.co.uk

PRACTICE AREAS:-
Banking / Finance
Intellectual Property
Charities
Litigation/Dispute Resolution
Competition
Private Client
Corporate/Public Employment
Real Estate / Property
Environment
Shipping
Family
Tax
..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................
This email and its attachments are confidential and intended for the exclusive use of the dressee(s).This email and its attachments may also be privileged or protected by legal rules. If you have received this by mistake please let us know by reply immediately and destroy the email and its attachments without reading, copying or forwarding.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam