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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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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 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.
  • claimsagent_swift01@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: "merlin wayne" <merlin.02@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 02 Sep 2006 01:32:16 -1100
Subject: OFFICIAL PRIZE NOTIFICATION

Attention: Sir/Madam,
TRACKING Nº: 51024060210
 
OFFICIAL PRIZE NOTIFICATION
This is to inform you that you have been selected for a cash prize of £500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Great British Pounds), International programs held on the 31st of August 2006 in London UK.
 
The selection process was carried out through random selection in our computerized email selection system(s) from a database of over 250,000 email addresses drawn from all the continents of the world.The British American Tobacco Lottery is approved by the British Gaming Board and also Licensed by The International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR). This lottery is the 3rd of its kind and we intend to sensitize the public.
To begin the processing of your prize you are to contact our Finance Executive officer through the contact details as stated below:
Mr. Fedrick Swift
Finance Executive Officer.
Globe House 4 Temple Place
London WC2R 2PG
E-mail: claimsagent_swift01@yahoo.co.uk
 
Contact him, with your secret code X7PW42006 and your Reference Number BAT: 12052006/220200. You are also advised to provide him with the under listed information along with your reply:
Claims Requirements:
1. Names in full:
------------------------------------------------------------
2. Address:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Nationality:
----------------------------------------------------------------
4. Age:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Occupation:
---------------------------------------------------------------
6. Phone/Fax:
----------------------------------------------------------------
7. Present Country:
--------------------------------------------------------
If you do not contact your claims agent within 7 working days of this notification, your winnings would be revoked. Winners are advised to
keep their winning details/information from the public to avoid fraudulent claim (IMPORTANT) pending the transfer/claim by Winner.

*Winner under the age of 18 is automatically disqualified.
*Staff of the British American Tobacco Company is not to partake in
this Lottery.
 

 

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam