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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:

• 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:
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "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.
  • info_heritagedept@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Baines Gerrald" <bainesgerrald@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 05 May 2007 05:43:56 -0500
Subject: Ref:04/ 8755412/2007

Ref:04/ 8755412/2007
Batch no;987644329/654
WINNING NO: WFD 6540089 GILI
 
Dear John,
 
WINNING NOTIFICATION
 
We happily announce to you the draw (4201) of the HERITAGE INTERNATIONAL  LOTTERY INC IN CONJUNCTION WITH U.K NATIONAL LOTTERY online Sweepstakes International program held on 28 March, 2007.
 
Your e-mail address attached to ticket number; 109865442 with serial number 8751128673  drew the lucky numbers: 50-18-22-24-32-33 (bonus no.), which subsequently won you the lottery in the 3nd category ie match 5 plus bonus.
 
You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of $2,000,000.00 (TWO MILLION UNITED STATES  DOLLARS) in cash credited to file KTU/9023118308/03. This is from a total cash prize of $4,000,000 shared amongst the first four (4) lucky winners in this category i.e Match 5 plus bonus.
 
All participants for the online version were selected randomly from World Wide Web sites through computer draw system and extracted from over 100,000 unions, associations, and corporate bodies that are listed online. This promotion takes place weekly.
 
Further more your details (e-mail address)  falls within our European representative office in London, united kingdom, as indicated in your play coupon and your prize of $2,000,000.00 (TWO MILLION UNITEDSTATES  DOLLARS) will be released to you from this regional branch office in LONDON We hope with part of your prize, you will participate in our end of year high stakes for £1.3 Billion international draw.
 
HOW TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE: Simply contact our Agent, Mr.Collins Akomas via email (info_heritagedept@yahoo.com) and send the following personal information to him.
 
[FULL NAME OF WINNER]....................................
 
[FULL MAILING ADDRESS]...................................
 
[COUNTRY/ REGION]........................................
 
[STATE/ PROVINCE]........................................
 
[DATE OF BIRTH].........../......../.....................
 
[SEX]....................................................
 
MARITAL STATUS]..........................................
 
[OCCUPATION].............................................
 
[CURRENT E-MAIL].........................................
 
[TEL/FAX]................................................
 
Please indicate "X" for the option you want your prize remitted to you. Listed are the options of receiving prize payment.
 
1) CASH PICK UP IN MALAYSIA[....]
 
2) CERTIFIED CHEQUE MADE OUT IN YOUR NAME COURIED TO YOU VIA OUR AFFILIATE COURIER COMPANY[....]
 
(3) BANK PAYMENT TRANSFER[.....]
 
He will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your winning price money as soon as you contact him. For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claim is processed and your money remitted to you in whatever manner you deem fit to claim your prize. Please you are advised to contact the agent with your winning numbers,this is part of ourprecautionary measure to avoid double
claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program.
 
 
Congratulations from all the members of staff of the HERITAGE INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY INC.
Yours faithfully,
Mr. Baines Gerrald
Congratulations once again

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam