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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
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• 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:
  • "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 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.
  • mcs06.enquiries@btinternet.com

Fraud email example:

From: clerk inq <clerk_inq0025@hotmail.co.uk>
Reply-To: <clerk_enquiry@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Wed, 7 Mar 2007 17:20:26 +0000
Subject: NOTIFICATION: This Email Address Draw The Winner



OVERSEAS SUBSCRIBERS AGENTSINTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT20 Howard Barking London, 7UA11GUNITED KINGDOM(Customer's Service Center)Ref Number: MCS/#231OXI/07Batch Number: 12L/2007/07 ATTENTION:WINNING RESULT/ AWARD NOTIFICATION This is to announce to you the result of the MICROSOFT PROMOTIONS held on the 6th of March 2007 in ENGLAND AND WALES . Your e-mail address attached to ticket number 5224652456UT with serial number 5388/02, batch number 12L/2007/07, lottery ref number MCS/#231OXI/07 and drew lucky numbers 06 - 13 - 17 - 23 -32 - 43 bonus ball 49 which subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category i.e match 5 plus bonus. you have therefore been approved for a lump sum payout of ₤850,000(Eight hundred and fifty thousand pounds sterling)in cash credited to file KLTT/KTU/2005ETN.This is from a total cash prize of ₤8.5 Million pounds sterlings, shared amongst the first TEN (10) lucky winners in this second category. CONGRATULATIONS!!!=================================================================================================Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep your winning information confidential until your claims has been processed and your money remitted to you. This is part of our security Protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some unscrupulous elements. The Lottery Draw facility uses special software to generate over 40,000 companies and 20,000,000 individual email addresses from all over the world at random. The ball sets and machines are tested by independent bodies in order to ensure that they all operate in a random fashion and that they act in a similar manner. Statisticians regularly check the draw history and test the data for signs of bias. To file for your claim, please contact our claims agent:Mr. Kelvin ScottCLAIMS AGENTE-Mail: mcs06.enquiries@btinternet.com Remember, all winning in this second category must be claimed not later than 1st of November 2005. After this date all unclaimed funds will be included in the next stake. Please note in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications please remember to quote your reference number and batch numbers in all correspondence. Furthermore, should there be any change of address do inform our agent as soon as possible.Congratulations once more from our members and staff and thank you for being part of our promotional program. Note that you must contact your fidiciary agent within one week of receipt of this notice. To enable your claims officer file your claims with the gaming board and to obtain the necessary approval and endorsement for payment, you are to immediately furnish your fiduciary/claims agent with the following information below: 1. Your Full Name and Current Address2. Tel/Fax Numbers3. Occupation/ Nationality4. Sex/ Date of Birth5. Ticket and Batch Numbers6. Your Winning Email Address Your claims agent shall verify your information and further instructions shall be sent to you prior the release of your award prize.Furthermore, should there be any change of your address, do inform your Fiduciary/Claims Agent as soon as possible. All winning must be claimed not later than 20 days of this notification. After this date all unclaimed, funds will be included in the next sweepstake.Note: Anybody under the age of 18 is automatically disqualified. Sincerely,MRS. MAGRETE SPENCERCo-ordinator Online Promotions Unit____________________________________________________________________Copyright © 2007 Microsoft Promotions . All rights reserved
_________________________________________________________________
Explore the seven wonders of the world
http://search.msn.com/results.aspx?q=7+wonders+world&mkt=en-US&form=QBRE

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam