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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery 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:

• 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)
• 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.
  • +447011129582 (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.
  • claims_british_int_lotto@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: British International Lottery Uk <british-international@blotteryuk.orangehome.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 14 Sep 2006 13:49:33 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: Attn:WINNING AWAITING CLAIMS


BRITISH LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL

60 Merriman Road
Blackheath
London SE3 8RZ
England
This woman just won the lottery in the 1st category and is pictured in her new home in Nice(France). She says"i did not believe at first....."



CUSTOMER SERVICE

Ref. Number: BTL/491OXI/04
Batch Number: 12/25/0304
Ticket Number: 564 75600545-188
Serial Number: 5388/02


Dear Sir/Madam,

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Winners in our British International Lottery Program held on the 13th September, 2006. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number 564 75600545-188 with serial number 5388/02 drew lucky numbers 7-14-18-31-45, which consequently won in the 2ND category, you have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay of GBP1,450,000 (One million,Four hundred and fifty thousand pounds). CONGRATULATIONS!

Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep your winning information confidential until your claims have been fully processed and your money remitted to you. This is part of our security protocol to avoid multiple claims and unwarranted abuse of this program by some participants. All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from over 20,000 company and 30,000,000 individual email addresses and names from all over the world.

This lottery was promoted and sponsored by a conglomerate of some multinational companies in Europe as part of their social responsibility to the citizens. This Lottery Program Jackpot is the largest ever for British Lottery. This year million jackpot would be the sixth biggest in U.K. history. The biggest was the $363 million jackpot that went to two winners in a May 2000 drawing of The Big Game, Mega Millions' predecessor. To file for your claim, please contact our director of finance.

Name: Powell Paul
Email: claims_british_int_lotto@yahoo.co.uk
Tel: +447011129582

Please note in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, remember to quote your reference number and batch numbers in all correspondence. Furthermore should there be any change of address do inform our agent as soon as possible. Congratulations once more from our members of staff and thank you for being part of our promotional program.

In order to verify your winnings, we need your particulars for record purposes. Attached here is a copy of our verifications form, please fill accordingly so as to proceed with your winnings. Once again congratulations from all our staff.

CLAIMS PROCESSING FORM


1. FULL NAMES:_______________________________________________________

2.NATIONALITY:_______________________________________________________

3. DATE OF BIRTH________________________________________

4. SEX:_________________________

5. MARITAL STATUS:_____________________________________

6.CONTACT ADDRESS:_____________________________________________

7.TELEPHONE NUMBER:___________________

8.OCCUPATION:_________________________________

9.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF COMPANY/INDIVIDUAL:_______________________________________

10.WINNING E-MAIL ADDRESS:________________________________

11.WINNING NUMBER:_________________________________________

12TOTAL AMOUNT WON:_________________________________________




Yours Sincerely,

Mr. Anthony Campbell
British Lottery International (co-ordinator)


N.B: Any breach of confidentiality on the part of the winners will result to disqualification.

Please do not reply to this mail. Contact our director of finance.

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam