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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:
  • "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!

Fraud email example:

From: Emirates Lottery <smithcarp010@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 13 May 2007 03:27:31 +0000
Subject: Confirm That You Are The Winner of....




EMIRATES HERITAGE LOTTERY 2007.UNITED ARAB EMIRATES.We are pleased to inform you of the announcements of this month'sWinners of the EMIRATES HERITAGE LOTTERY.Your e-mail address, is attached to a Ticket number190-171-UAE-S5E, with a serial number UAE2007-DB drew the LuckyWinning Numbers 109-1GFJ-UAE65.You have therefore been awarded the total lump sum pay out of$1,000,000.00 USD credited to File Ref No: UAE/ DB-765AE-BA.You are to contact Your claims agent by e-mail;Contact Person: James KelvinE-mail: overseasclaimsdepartment@yahoo.co.ukCongratulations once again from all our staff for being a part of ourPromotions program.ACCEPT OUR HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS.U.A.E Home of all Trade.© Emirates Heritage Lottery 2007.
_________________________________________________________________
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http://www.windowslive-hotmail.com/learnmore/default.html?locale=en-us&ocid=RMT_TAGLM_HMWL_reten_changegood_0507

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam