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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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")
  • "million british pounds" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
• 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.
  • +447011129864 (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.
  • dr_richallen@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: "British American Online" <info@britishamerican-online.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 7 Sep 2006 14:38:26 +0200
Subject: From: British American Online (Congratulations!!!)

BRITISH AMERICAN ONLINE LOTTERY COMMISSION:
CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPT.
*******************************************
REGENT'S PARK,LONDON NW1 4NS,UNITED KINGDOM
*******************************************
Ref: BAOL/821908-001/SEC
Batch: 093/101/53JC

Attn: Winner

We are pleased to announce to you the draw of the British American Online Lottery International programs held on the 5th of September 2006 (05/09/2006) in London. Your e-mail address attached to the following numbers listed below:

Ticket number: 01106738210
Serial Number: 200191/001
Drew the Lucky Numbers: 00-01-5-2600-08

The above listed numbers subsequently make's you one of the bonafide winner of the lottery promo in the 2nd category. You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of £ 2,500,000.00 GBP (Two Million, Five Hundred Thousand, British Pounds Sterling's) in cash credited to file BAOL/821908-001/SEC

This is from a total cash prize of £45,000.000.00 GBP (Forty Five Million British Pounds) shared amongst the first fifteen (15) lucky winners in this category "A".

Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our British booklet representative office in Europe as indicated in our play coupon. In view of this, your £2,500,000.00 GBP (Two Million, Five Hundred Thousand, British Pounds) would be released to you  via Bank to Bank Wire Transfer by our affiliate Bank. Our agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your funds to you as soon as with him.

All participants were selected randomly from 'World Wide Web' site e.g. WWW.YAHOO.COM , WWW.MSN.COM, WWW.MAKTOOB.COM, e.g. through
computer draw system and extracted from over 100,000 companies.

For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claims is processed and your money remitted to you. This is a part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some unscrupulous elements.

Please be warned. To file for your claim, please contact your claims agent with the below details for processing of your claims and endeavour to list out your winning numbers when filing your claim.

************************************************************

Name: Dr. Richard Allen
Tel: +44 701 112 9864
Fax:+44 709 288 3110
E-mail: dr_richallen@yahoo.co.uk
Foreign Services Manager, BRITISH AMERICAN ONLINE LOTTERY COMMISSION, UNITED KINGDOM

*************************************************************

Note that all claims process and clearance procedures must be duly completed early to avoid impersonation arising to the issue of double claim.

To avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please quote your reference/batch numbers in any correspondences with us or our designated agent.

Your are advised to acknowledge the receipt of your notification by return phone call.

Congratulations once more from all members and staffs of this program.

Yours Faithfully,

Mr. Peter Gerald
British American Online Lottery Coordinator.
info@britishamerican-online.co.uk

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam