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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "your urgent reply" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
• 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.
  • +447011136252 (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.
  • financialdept@diplomats.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: AOL LOTTERY <aolemailpromoaward@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 4 Oct 2006 11:14:59 +0100 (BST)
Subject: PLEASE FILL THIS FORM.


AOL/Microsoft Finanacial Department
UK. United Kingdom
Director: Dr. Martin Frank
Phone: +44 701113 6252
E-mail: financialdept@diplomats.com

ATTENTION: AOL/MICROSOFT WINNER,

I have been directed to inform you that you have just five {5} days left to contact this department about your winnings or you will not be able to redeem your prize/money. If after the above mentioned days and we do not hear from you it will be assumed that you do not want to claim your prize/money, there by giving us the right to disburse of your winnings for our yearly charity programme.

Below is a form that should be filled if you are not willing to claim your prize/money. As your fund has been deposited in an escrow account and insured in your name. You filling the form give us the right over your claims. If after this five days and you do not contact this department and do not fill the form, you lack the right to come forward for your prize/money any other time as we have done our best.

Below is your file REF NO: M154S/WL04-F0442623. and AOL/MICRO (LOTTERY) CHIP NO: 9465021,

Please complete the form below with correct information and email back to us with a return email.

Looking forward to your urgent reply.

Yours Faithfully,
Dr. Martin Frank

THIS FORM SHOULD BE COMPLETED IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE ONLY.

FIRST NAME..............................................................
LAST NAME...............................................................
TICKET NUMBER..............................................................................
AMOUNT WON..................................................................................
BATCH Nº..........................................................................................
REFERENCE Nº...............................................................................
REASONS FOR NOT CLAIMING PRIZE/MONEY......................................................


DECLARATION:

I...............................................................HEREBY DECLARE THAT I DO NOT WISH TO CLAIM MY PRIZE/MONEY AND WILL LOOSE THE RIGHT TO SUE FOR RECLAIMS.

DATE...................................................................
(YOUR FULL NAMES).........................................................................

You can reach us with the below contact details:
AOL/Microsoft Finanacial Department
UK. United Kingdom
Director: Dr. Martin Frank
Phone: +44 701113 6252
E-mail: financialdept@diplomats.com

.................................................................................................
This email and its attachments are confidential and intended for the exclusive use of the addressee(s). This email and its attachments may also be privileged or protected by legal rules. If you have received this by mistake please let us know by reply immediately and destroy the email and its attachments without reading, copying or forwarding the contents.


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam