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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.

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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • +447024018788 (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.
  • altonwilly_001@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mother Theresa Lottery" (may be fake)
Date: Sat, 2 Sep 2006 01:49:34 +0200 (MEST)
Subject: congratulations you just won !!!!!


KEMPERING STREET 29,
CAMBERWELL-LONDON ENGLAND.
Our Ref: CSF/TGD /August. /06
Your ReF:

Dear Sir/Madam,
MOTHER THERESA RANDOM PROMOTIONS
We are pleased to inform you of the result of our computer random
selection for the Mother Theresa International Game held on 27th August ,2006
which is part of our promotional draws in remembrance of the late MOTHER THERESA
(PEACE MAKER, PIONEER AND LEGEND OF OUR TIME).
Participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from
25,000 names/email addresses of individuals and companies from Africa, America, Asia,
Australia, Canada, Europe, MiddleEast, and New Zealand as part of our International Promotions
Program.Your Email address attached to ticket number MT-CB7853627 drew the
luckystar number, which consequently won the draw ,You have been
approved for the star prize of Five Hundred Thousand gbp(500,000 pounds).
Please endeavor to donate not less than 10% of your winning to any
internationally recognized charity homes closer to you so that a lot of
the less privilege once can feel our contribution and remembrance of
THE LATE LEGEND (MOTHER THERESA).
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
You are advised to keep this winning very confidential until you
receive your lump prize in your account. This is a protective measure
to avoid double claiming by people that you may tell.
You are advised to fill this form properly for immediate processing of your prize.
NAME:.....................................
AGE:........................................
SEX:........................................
ADDRESS:...............................
EMAIL:....................................
PHONE:...................................
OCCUPATION:.........................
COMPANY:..............................
COUNTRY:...............................
Overseas Claims Unit
Mother Theresa Lottery Fiduciary
Contact Person: Mr Alton Williams.
Email:altonwilly_001@yahoo.com
Tel:+44-702-401-8788

All prizes must be claimed within two weeks.
NOTE: If you are under the age of 18, you are automatically
disqualified for this star prize.
Yours faithfully,
Mr.Alton williams
N.B. Any breach of confidentiality on the part of the winners will
result to disqualification.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam