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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:

• 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)
  • "million 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 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.
  • +447031820484 (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.
  • agent_harry021@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. David Hooper" <jumbowins_54@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 26 Oct 2006 23:48:54 +0100
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS YOU HAVE WON!!!

Jumbo Lotto Promo 2006.
9 Chaucer House
Churchill gardens
London, SW1V 3DW
United Kingdom.
16th Floor SABC Radio Park Building Henley Road
Auckland Park, ZA-2006 Johannesburg.
 
Ref: win/jun102/05
Batch:05/10/wa34
 
Dear Sir/Madam,
 
We happily announce to you the draw of the Jumbo Lottery Promo International Programs held on the 26th of October 2006 in Kumasi, Ghana Your email address attached to ticket number :1456 with serial number :5555/05 drew the lucky number 3-1-174, which subsequently won you the lottery in the first category. You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of $1,000, 00.00 (One million United States Dollars) in cash credited to file wlp/23456/05. This is from a total cash prize of US$ 30,000,00 Million Dollars,shared amongst the first thirty (30) lucky winners in this category.
 
In view of this,your US$ 1,000,000.00 (One million, United States Dollars) would be released to you by our redemption centers in Africa and Europe. Our agents will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your funds as soon as you contact her.
 
All participants were selected randomly from World wide Website through computer ballot system extracted from over 1,000,000 companies and individuals
 
This promotion takes place annually for security reasons you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claims is processed and your money remitted to you in whatever manner you deem fit to claim your prize.
 
This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some unscrupulous elements. Please be warned.
 
To file your claims, please contact our agent:
Mr. Harry Henderson
Universal Trust Inc.
Email: agent_harry021@yahoo.co.uk
Tel: +44-703-182-0484
Fax: +44-707-102-0586
 
Note that all winning must be claimed not later than 30days of receiving this notification. After this dateall unclaimed, funds will be included in the next stake.To avoid unnecessary delay and complications, Please quote your reference/batch numbers in any correspondences with us or our designated agent.Congratulations once more from all members and staffs of this program!!!
 
Congratulations once more from our members of staff and thank you for being part of our promotional program.
 
Note: Anybody under the age of 18 is automatically disqualified.
 
Sincerely,
(Mr.David Hooper),
Public Relations Officer
Jumbo Lotto Promo 2006.

 

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam