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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.

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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:
  • "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 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.
  • +447045716959 (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.
  • gerald_williams2007@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "gareth edwards" <gareth_edwards002@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2007 14:14:31 +0200
Subject: Award Notification!!!

UK FUN LOTTO
47 COLD HARBOUR
LONDON, E14 9NS
UNITED KINGDOM
Dear Winner,

We are pleased to announce you as one of the 3 lucky
winners in the UK FUN LOTTO draw held on 20th of March
2007. All 3 winning addresses were randomly selected
from a batch of 5,000,000 international emails. Your
email address emerged alongside 2 others as a 3rd
category winner in this month's draw.
Consequently,you have therefore been approved for a
total pay out of £2,000,000 Pounds (Two million
pounds) only.The following particulars are attached to
your lotto payment order:

(i) Winning numbers: 7, 31, 62, 21, 74, 80
(ii) Serial number: 21-8-1974
(iii) Lotto batch number: FL-101
(iv) Reference number: SBF-404-3
Please contact the underlisted claims officer as soon
as possible for the immediate release of your
winnings:

Mr. Gerald Wlliams
Claims Department Manager
COIN SECURITY COMPANY LONDON
Email:gerald_williams2007@yahoo.com
Tel: +44 7045716959
Fax: +44 7030404132

Once again on behalf of all our staff,
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Sincerely,
Mr.Gareth Edwards
Promotions Manager

N.B:
1.All claims are nullified after 10 working days from
today.
2.Your Ref number must be in all your mails with the
claims officer.
3.Do inform the claims officer of any change of names
or addresses.
4.All winners under the age of 18 are automatically
disqualified.
5.Please contact your claims agent by or email
(Mr Gerald Wlliams).company

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam