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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:
  • "claim 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.
  • clamsagentoly@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: dan allans <bilfiduciarydesk001@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 16 Jun 2006 08:39:15 +0100 (BST)
Subject: OYL INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY CLAIMS FORM.


Dear: Madras House,

This is to acknowledge the receipt of your mail and to let you know that you are expected to fill this form bellow and send it back to us. With this we can go ahead and process your won prize.

Note that all participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn form 15 million names from Australia, New Zealand, America, Europe and North America and Africa as part of International Promotions Program, which is conducted annually.

Consiquently, you won the lottery in the first category. Which is a lump sum pay out of US$2,500,000,00[Two million five hundred thousand dollars].
Congratulations once again.
Best regards,

Mr. Jeff Harrison
Your Claim Agent.
eMAIL: clamsagentoly@yahoo.co.uk

OYL INTERNATIONAL CLAIMS MANAGER.

Beneficiary's Name..............................................................
Country of Residence............................................................
Address:......................................................................................
.........................................................................................................
Occupation:.................................................................................
Age:............................................
Sex........................................
Nationality:.................................................................................
Tel......................................................
Fax........................................
Amount Won:..............................................................................
Company Name...........................................................................
Marital Status:.............................................................................
Reference No:................................................................................
Winnng Number:..........................................................................
Batch No:.........................................................................................
Email Address:.................................................................................
Beneficiary's signature.....................................................................
Date......................................................



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam