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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
• 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.
  • +447011139463 (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.
  • jonathanwilliams1957@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: Ashley Steve <ashley@ashleysteve.orangehome.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 6 Nov 2006 14:58:26 +0100 (CET)
Subject: AOL MEGA PROMOTION!!!


AOL MEGA PROMOTION,
31 HAMMERSMITH ROAD LONDON W14 8UD
UNITED KINGDOM

FROM: THE DESK OF THE DIRECTOR PROMOTIONS,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT,
REF NO: MELI-T/17-F044262312

Finally today, we announce the winners of the AOL/MICROSOFT MEGA JACKPOT LOTTO WINNINGS PROGRAMS held on 3rd, November 2006. Your company or your personal e-mail address, won in the second lottery category 002. Consequently, you have therefore been approved for a total pay out of £700,000 Pounds (Seven Hundred Thousand pounds) ($1,238, 023.00 USD) only. The following particulars are attached to your lottery payment order:Credited to file REF NO: M154S/WL04-F0442623. and MICRO (LOTTERY) CHIP NO: 9465021, you are the second lucky winner of the total winners of 10.

All the 10 participants were selected through our Microsft computer ballot system (MCBS) out of 65,000 emails drawn from each continent, as part of International "E-MAIL" Promotions Program, to promote the use of emails all over the World, and to promote the use of Microsoft Office. Your funds (certified and to promote the use of AOL/Microsoft Office). Your funds (certified Cashiers cheque) have been insured with your REF NO: M154S/WL04-F0442623. To claim your winning prize, you must first, contact the claims agent by email for Processing and remittance of your prize money to you. The claims processor is:

Name: Jonathan Williams
South West London Consultants,
Email: jonathanwilliams1957@yahoo.co.uk
3 Millbank Court, London, SW1P 4LG
Phone: +44 701 113 9463
Fax: +44 7092873205

Do email the above email address, immediately with all the claims requirements below In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, Send a fax immediately if you can not reach us by email.

Claims Requirements:

1. FULL NAMES:
2. NATIONALITY:
3. DELIVERY ADDRESS
4.PHONE AND FAX:
5. PREFFERED MODE OF DELIVERY (CHOOSE FROM THE BELOW)
6. AGE
7. SEX

DELIVERY OPTIONS

(A) BANK ACTIVATION OPTION: Requires you activating an account with THAMES FIDUCIARY BANK UK where your funds will be deposited and then you can transfer using an account login which will be allocated to you.

(B) Go to our Offshore Payment Center here in Europe and receive your Prize.
(C) Delivery of Funds via Courier Service

Sincerely,
Coordinator
Mr. Ashley Steve

N.B:
1. All claims are nullified after 20 working days from today.
2. Your Ref number must be in all your mails with the claims officer.
3. Do inform the claims officer of any change of names or addresses.
4. Please do not reply to this email. Contact your claims agent.
5. You are not meant to disclose your winning to anyone to avoid double claiming.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam