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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:
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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:
  • "transfer of your funds" (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!

Fraud email example:

From: Patricia Pierce <patricia@ppierce.orangehome.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 20 Nov 2006 10:36:26 +0100 (CET)
Subject: Congratulations!


ALPHA LOTTO PROMO,
MARY AXE.ST MARY AXE LONDON EC3A,
UNITED KINGDOM.

Congratulations!
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Alpha Lotto Promo programs, held on the 30th of September 2006, which drew a cash prize of 3,000,000.00 pounds. Your e-mail address attached to Ticket/Code number 14/011/IPD with claim/reference number AEL/23117860/04 drew these lucky/Winning numbers 14-17-23-31-44, which consequently won in the 2nd category. You have been approved to receive a cash prize of 3,000,000.00 pounds(Three million pounds only).
Be advised that due to incessant mix up in cash prize transfer to previous winners, we advise that you keep your winning information confidential until your claim has been processed and released to you. This security measure is critical and put in place to avoid double claims, transfer and unwarranted abuse of this program by other participants.
METHOD OF SELECTING WINNERS:
Participants were selected anonymously through a private ballot system (computer ballot) from over 100,000 companies and 50,000 individual e-mail addresses all over the world. At the final draw your e-mail address emerged as the winner of our last jackpot.
This is promotional program takes place quarterly, and it is promoted and sponsored by Vodaphone Corporation and Dell Networks. It is meant to reward some individuals and corporations who have devoted their time and resources surfing the World Wide Web with their email addresses.
Remember, all winning must be claimed before 4th December, 2006. After the expiration of that time frame, if your funds are unclaimed, it will be refunded to us and included in our next draws.
To avoid unnecessary delays/complications with the transfer of your funds to you, please collect your AWARD WINNING CERTIFICATE from the Claims Manager and always remember to quote your Code number in all correspondence with our paying agency(West African Remittance Centre, Accra, Ghana) state your.
(1) Names and Address,
(2) Telephone number,
(3) Age,
(4) Occupation
(5) Payment option either (check or bank transfer)
Should there be any change of your present address, please notify us immediately to make the appropriate adjustment.
You are to contact the paying agency as mentioned below for the processing of your claims.
Company Name. West African Remittance Centre
Contact person. Mr. Peter Frank.
Dept Claims Processing/Legal Department
E-mail: alpha_lotto@o2.pl

Yours in Services
Dr(Mrs.) Patricia

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam