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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:

• 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.
  • +27783451610 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: james richard <james_richard5@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2006 01:28:11 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: procedure


Attn;Madras House ,

Congratulations

Your mail was received with regards, the authenticity of your winning has been confirmed by this office. your are required to furnish this office with
the underlisted information to enable us proceed with the necessary documentation before the bank will release your winning sum.

1. Your full name and address.
2. Your serial number, your batch number and your ticket number.
3. Your contact details (phone and fax number) for easy communication.
4. Your banking details where you want the winning sum to be deposited for you.
5. Your drivers license or first two pages of your international passport to be sent through email attachment.

The details of your payment will be forwarded to you on the receipt of your reply and please do not disclose the details of your winning sum to any one until your winning sum get to your designated account.

Regards,

Mr. James Richard,
Claims Department Manager.
+27 783 451 610 (Direct Line).

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam