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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
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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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 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.
  • info_worldcuplottery@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: FIFA WORLD CUP LOTTO <onlinecoordinator_fifalotto@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 3 Oct 2006 04:10:33 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Congratulations!



Ref number: DPL/306/25921
Batch number: 64533642-AE

Dear Sir/Madam
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the lucky winners of the Depost Summer Fifa World Cup lottery international program held on the 20th September, 2006. Your e-mail address is attached to ticket number 27455668899-478 with serial number 1772-545 drew lucky numbers 2-15-19-21-23-29 which consequently won in the 2nd category.

You have been approved as the beneficiary for a lump individual payout of ($800,000 USD)Eight Hundred Thousand United States Dollars. Based on our guidelines, regulations and privacy policy, we strongly advice that you should keep your winning information confidential until you file for your claim.

It's worthy of note, that all participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from all over the world. This Fifa World Cup Lottery promotional program takes place every four years.

In other to file for your claim, please contact fiduciary agent,
Mr. Fredrick Martins on e-mail address, (info_worldcuplottery@yahoo.co.uk)

Congratulations!
With our best regards
Ivo Tempelman
(Director of operations)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam