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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "claims 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 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.
  • +447031905738 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• 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.
  • amen_walker@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: MICROSOFTWINNING NOTIFICATION <msword220@mail.ru>
Date: Thu, 10 Aug 2006 03:07:07 -0300
Subject: MICROSOFT WINNING N OTIFICATION

 MICROSOFT MEGA JACKPOT EMAIL LOTTERY
UNITED KINGDOM. LONDON.
BANK OF ENGLAND/MICROSOFT HOUSE, LONDON.
Director: MR. Andrew Gregory III
Phone number: +44 703 190 5738
REF NO: M154S/WL04.

MICRO (LOTTERY) CHIP NO: 9465021
ELECTRONIC MAIL AWARD PROMOTION.
MICROSOFT MEGA JACKPOT EMAIL LOTTERY
UNITED KINGDOM.

Finally today, we announce the winners of the MICROSOFT MEGA JACKPOT
EMAIL LOTTO WINNINGS PROGRAMS held on 9th,August 2006. Your company or
your personal e-mail address, won in the second lottery category 002.You
are therefore been approved for lump sums pay of £5,500,000.00 FIVE
MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND POUNDS. Equivalent to ($10,064,000USD) Ten
Million, sixty four thousand US Dollars. In cash Credited to file REF
NO: M154S/WL04. and MICRO (LOTTERY) CHIP NO: 9465021, You are the second
lucky winner of the total winners of 10.

You all won £5.5,million Pounds each.All the 10 participants were
selected through our Microsoft computer ballot system (MCBS) drawn from each
continent, as part of International "E-MAIL" Promotions Program, to
promote the use of emails all over the World, and to promote the use of
Microsoft Office. Your funds (certified Cashiers cheque) have been
insured with your REF NO: M154S/WL04. To claim your winning prize
(£5.5,million pounds), you must first, contact the claims department by email for
Processing and remittance of your prize money to you. The claims
processor is:

Name: Mr.Amen Walker
E-mail: amen_walker@yahoo.co.uk 
PHONE #: +44 703 190 5738

Do email the email address amen_walker@yahoo.co.uk   at once with all
the claims requirements
below. In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications.Claims
Requirements:
1.full Name:...........
2. Address:...................
3. Nationality:..........................
4. Age:.....
5.Date of Birth:............
6.Occupation:..........................
7.Phone:...............Phone2:............
.Fax:...............
8. State of Origin:...................
9.Country:..........................

Sincerely,
Secretary

Mr Mr.Amen Walker.
NOTE: Do not reply this mail. You are to contact your claims processor
immediately by email.If you have any difficulties call your claims
processor MR.Henry Jake on PHONE #: +44 703 190 5738. This promo is all
about emails, be aware. N.B:

1.All claims are nullified after 20 working days from today
2. Your Ref number must be in all your mails with the claims officer.
3. Do inform the claims officer of any change of names or addresses.
4. Please do not reply to this email. Contact your claims agent.

Copyright   1994-2006 MS-WORD EMAIL LOTTERY INC. UK.

 

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam