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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:
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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. )
• 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.
  • paycoordinator-@excite.com

Fraud email example:

From: "ROYALTY LOTTERY" <royaltylp1@rediffmail.com>
Date: 17 Apr 2007 03:41:17 -0000
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS, CONTACT US IMMEDIATELY


ROYALTY LOTTO PROMOTIONS UK(sponsored by the UK NATIONAL LOTTERIES BOARD)157-197 buckingham Palace Road,VictoriaLondon SW 1N9SP UK.
Dear Sir/Madam,
AWARD NOTIFICATION .
We are pleased to announce to you, that Our computer mainframe has just picked you among 6 fortunate individuals for this NEW YEAR LOTTERY draws held on the 1st January,2007 and a bulk sum is to be released to you within the next 7 working days from the day you respond to thismessage.
You are entitled to a bulk amount of US$3,500,000(Three Million,Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only) payable to your account via direct wire transfer or Certified Bankers Cheque sent to your address.
You are to contact us immediate for your payment reference code and other modalities for this for this amount to be released to you within the specified time frame.We expect you to contact the Payment Coordinator Dr.Alain White UKCHALOT Organisation London via thecontact below:
Email: paycoordinator-@excite.com
You are to call Mr. Alain White via his direct telephone line above stated in line with the rules for claiming your winning. He will in turn communicate your Payment Release PIN to you and also your Winning Certificate
Fill out the required Details urgently
*************************************************
WINNER\'S FORM
1.FULL NAMES:____________________________________
2.NATIONALITY:___________________________________
3.AGE________________________________________
4.SEX:_________________________
5.MARITAL STATUS:______________________________
6.CONTACT ADDRESS:______________________________
7.TELEPHONE NUMBER:__________________
8.OCCUPATION:_________________________________williams gambo: 9.POSITION AT WORK:______________________________
10.ANNUAL INCOME(IN US$)_________________________
11.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF COMPANY/INDIVIDUAL:______
12.WINNING E-MAIL ADDRESS:______________________
13.WINNING NUMBER:_______________________________
14.TOTAL AMOUNT WON:_____________________________
DECLARATION
I ...................HEREIN DECLARE THAT ALL THE INFORMATION DETAILED BY ME ON THIS FORM REPRESENTS MY TRUE ID AND SHOULD BE USED FOR PAYMENT PURPOSES ONLY.I AM TO BE HELD LIABLE FOR WRONGFUL PAYMENT OR ERRORS CAUSED BY INFORMATION HEREIN PROVIDED BY ME.
................. ....................&nbsp;&nbsp; SIGNED DATE
*************************************************
Respond immediately.
Melinda GyoriMgr.Customer Service,ROYALTY LOTTO PROMOTIONS UKLondon-UK

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam