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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
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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!
• 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.
  • +447024024394 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "FESTUS OKI" <info-microsoftlotterygames@infodukes.net> (may be fake)
Date: Wed, 20 Sep 2006 03:19:39 +0200 (MEST)
Subject: Ms-Word 2006 Email Award Promotion


MICROSOFT MEGA JACKPOT LOTTERY
UNITED KINGDOM. LONDON.
BANK OF ENGLAND/MICROSOFT HOUSE, LONDON.
Director: MR. DOUGLAS WILSON
PHONE #:(00944) 7024024394
PHONE #:(00944) 7024024397
REF NO: M154S/WL06.
MICRO (LOTTERY) CHIP NO: 9465206

ELECTRONIC MAIL AWARD PROMOTION. MICROSOFT MEGA JACKPOT LOTTERY UNITED KINGDOM.

Today, we announce the 10 lucky winners of the MICROSOFT MEGA JACKPOT LOTTO WINNINGS PROGRAMS held on 16th, september 2006. Your company or your personal e-mail address, attached to the Chip Number: 9465206,won in the sixth lottery category 006. Your email address has brought you an unexpected luck, please read through this message. See names of winners below, you are at the sixth position of ten, you are so lucky to be one.
WINNERS:
(1) Martin G. Handerson, (2) Julius Basil, (3) Northern Woods Jr. (4)Michael Fiths L. (5) Kenneth Edger Andrea.(6) YOU, (7) Elizabert A.Herrera, (8) Patricia Hints, (9) Lee Chung Smiths JR. (10)Rodriguez Gonzalenz .

You are therefore been approved for lump sums pay out of £5,500,000.00, FIVE MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND POUNDS. Equivalent to, ($10,064,000 USD), Ten Million, sixty four thousand US Dollars. In cash Credited to file REF NO: M154S/WL06. And MICRO (LOTTERY) CHIP NO: 9465206, you are the sixth lucky winner of the total winners of 10. You all won £5.5, million Pounds each.

All the 10 participants were selected through our Microsoft computer ballot system (MCBS) drawn from each continent, as part of International "E-MAIL" Promotions Program, to promote the use of ELECTRONIC MAILS (E-MAILS) all over the World, and to promote the use of Microsoft Office. Your funds (certified Cashiers cheque) have been insured with the FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION, LONDON, With your REF NO: M154S/WL06. To claim your winning prize (£5.5, million pounds), you must first, contact the claims department by email for Processing and remittance of your prize money to you. The claims processor is:

Name : Mr. Charles Brookes Jr.
E-mail :
charlesbrookes_claimsagent@yahoo.co.u
Do email the above email address, at once with all the claims requirements below. In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications.
Claims Requirements:
1.full Name:..................................................
2.Address:....................................................
3.Nationality:................................................
4.Age:...........Date of Birth:.............................
5.Occupation:.................................................
6.Phone:...........Phone 2:...............Fax:.................
7.State of Origin:...............Country:...................
8.Sex:.........................................................
The above requirements are much more needed to proceed. Be free and fast to send the above details to your claims processor.
Sincerely,
Secretary
Mr Albert Pittas jr
NOTE: Do not reply this mail. You are to contact your claims processor immediately by email. Be aware and be informed, that there will be upfront charges, either for transfer of funds to your account or either by transportation (courier) you will be asked to pay for the delivery charges or transfer charges. You will also be given information’s on how to claim your prize; you will be given the contacts to the offices in charge of the necessary certificate if necessary. Have it in mind that this is not a Scam; we want you to understand that there will be upfront charges for the delivery or for the transfer of your funds.

WARNING!!!

ANY MAIL RECIEVED OF THIS SUCH WITH ANY OTHER TRADE MARK OR ADDRESS SHOULD BE FOWARDED TO YOUR CLAIMS PROCESSOR IMMEDIATELY, THIS WILL HELP US TO FIGHT SCAM AND LOTTERY IMPOSTERS. THANK YOU FOR YOURANTICIPATED CO-OPERATION.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam