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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!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• 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:
  • "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!

Fraud email example:

From: BRITISH TOBACCO VERIFICATION CENTRE <british_tobaccoapprovedagent1@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 9 Apr 2007 16:04:13 +0100 (BST)
Subject: ATTENTION


ATTENTION: Esteemed Winner,

Your email address attached to; REF NO: MELI-T/17-F044262312 ,
TICKET NUMBER 9901-0148-790-691,
SERIAL NUMBER 6109-17 ,
Batch No. 13/FFP/LDL/037, emerged as our lucky winner in the just concluded round of draws from the BRITISH TOBACCO PROMOTIONS which took place early this month.
You are hereby required to provide your names and other referal informations to start your claims process. Hope to hear from you soonest. Once again, CONGRATULATIONS.

1.Name in full:..................................
2.Address:.......................................
3.Nationality:...................................
4.Age:.............................................
5.Occupation:..................................
6.Phone/Fax:..................................
7.Present Country:...........................

Winners are advised to keep their winning details/informations safe from the public
to avoid fraudulent claims.*Winners under the age of 18 are automatically disqualified.
*Staff of the British Tobacco Company are not allowed to partake in this Lottery.

Mr. ALBERT GREGORY.
Fiduciary Agent/Payment Officer.
20 Lausanne Road London, SW2 3JB ENGLAND.U.K


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam