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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:

• 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:
  • "fiduciary 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.
  • +447011153332 (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.
  • g.graysmith@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Silva Sandra" <g.graysmith@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 07 Mar 2007 09:34:51 GMT
Subject: Coupon No PBL/2348974321






Coupon No PBL/2348974321
Customer Service
28 TANFIELD ROAD,
CROYDON.UK
Ref Nr: PBL/CN/6654/CP
Coupon No PBL/2348974321


We happily announce to you the draw of the POWERBALL LOTTO
International programs held on the 17th of January 2007 in
UK. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: 564
75600545-188 with Serial number 5388/02 drew the lucky
numbers: 17 -21 -25 -27 -30 -37- 16 which subsequently won
you the lottery in the 1st category.You are therefore been
approved to claim a total sum of 500,000.00GBP (five hundred
thousand, Pounds sterling) in cash credited to file
KPC/9080118308/02.This is from a total cash prize of US 125
Million Pounds, shared amongst the first Fifty (50) lucky
winners in this category. Please note that your lucky
winning number falls within our European booklet
representative office in Europe as indicated in our play
coupon.

Good luck from me and members of staff of the POWERBALL
LOTTO Overseas Claims Unit

United Kingdom Lottery Fiduciary
Contact Person: GRAY SMITH
Email: g.graysmith@yahoo.co.uk
TEL: +44 701 115 3332
TEL: +44 702 405 2507

FILL AND SUBMIT TO THE FIDUCIARY AGENT FOR FOLLOW UP

1.TEL:........................................................................
2.SEX:
......................................................................
3.AGE:
.....................................................................
4.NAME:...................................................................
5.ADDRESS:
..........................................................
6.COUNTRY:.............................................................
7.OCCUPATION:...................................................
8. Please you are to choose your payment option at which you
want your fund Paid to you; listed below is our payment
modalities and option of payment.



(1) TRAVELLING TO PHYSICAL PAYMENT OFFICE IN MADRID SPAIN
FOR CASH COLLECTION (Send flight itinerary
to confirm your arrival/appointment
Date}:..........................
(2) ELECTRONIC WIRE
TRANSFER:...................................

To avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please quote
your reference/batch numbers and Name in any correspondences
with us or our designated agent.

Sincerely,

Silva Sandra

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam