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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:
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• 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!
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • +447031947744 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "DR. MIKE TAYLOR" <claimsagent625@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2006 09:04:47 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: PAYMENT APPROVAL.


Attn:Albertina Leh ,

Ticket Number:278511465896-6452
Ref Number:132/756/4534
Batch Number:638901527-AMB/02
serial Number:3772-554
Lucky Nukmber: 200-4774- 764

Congratulations on your winnings,We wish to inform you that your winnings has been approved for payment.
A draft of$3million has been prepared and signed in your name and you are required to contact our lawyer Barrister James Alexender Debens who will assist you Notarize your winnings in court and also insure your draft with an insurance company here in London before it can be Deliver to your Resident Address that you will provide.
You can reach Barrister Debens on his direct line +44 703 194 7744 or his email address: jamesdebens@jamesdelawoffice.com

Do let us know your position.
Regards,
Mike Taylor


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam