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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:

• 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.
  • +447031943309 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: Dr HAROLD Brookes <claims4_agent@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: seanconelly@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Mon, 3 Jul 2006 14:33:30 +0100 (BST)
Subject: British American Online Lottery (Winning Details Required)


Attn: Amarjit Singh Sir/Madam

We have acknowledge the receipt of your mail as regarding your request are must let you now that this is 100pecent leger.

guidelines/advise on how you are to redeem your winning prize you won in the British American Online Lottery Promo.
In other to enable us furnish you with details on how you are to file claim for your winning prize, you are on this note advised to furnish you with your winning number such as:

1. Your Ref. No.
2. Batch No.
3. Ticket number
4. Serial Number
5. Drew the Lucky Numbers

This number will enable us to verify if actually you are one of the Bonafide winner of the British American Online Lottery Promo.
Note that your quick anticipation, will determine how soonest you will get your money. Once again, on behalf of the British American Online Lottery Commission, I say Congratulations to you in advance.
Please endeavour acknowledge the receipt of this mail by return phone call.
Yours Sincerely,

Dr. Harold Brookes.
Foreign Services Manager, Payment and Release order Department,
BRITISH AMERICAN ONLINE LOTTERY COMMISSION, UNITED KINGDOM.
Tel: +447031943309, +447031943328
Fax:+44 709286671



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam