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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:
  • "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.
  • +2348033376278 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • weather_claims07@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: WEATHER AUSTRALIA LOTTERY PROMOTIONS <weather_claims145@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 31 May 2007 12:27:01 +0000
Subject: Last notice for your winning prize !!!!



Attn: Lucky Winner. This is to inform you that your winning prize money from the THE WEATHER AUSTRALIAN LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL, will be cancelled soonest due to your failure to claim your money as directed by the lottery co-ordinator. You are adviced by this mail to contact the accreditted attorney to Fidelity bank Nigeria Plc today for your payment without further delay. Note the following:Your Ref number for the claim is: 007pwyz2006Winning Amount: $1.6million. You are therefore adviced to provide the under listed Claim Requirements information to the lottery payment handling officer. Claim Requirements: 1. Name in full:---------------------------------------2. Address:--------------------------------------------3. Phone number(s)------------------------------------------4. Age:------------------------------------------------5. Occupation:-----------------------------------------6. Nationality:----------------------------------------7.Sex-----------------------------------------------------================================================================ Failure to contact the accredited claims agent{Mr. Bello Ben} whose information is stated below within 7 working days of this notification, your winning will be revoked. Accredited claims agent information : NAME: Mr. Bello BenTEL # : +234-803-3376278EMAIL: weather_claims07@hotmail.com Winners are advised to keep their winning details/information from the public to avoid fraudulent claim pending the transfer/claim of Winning fund. Accept our heartily congratulations once again! Regards. Mrs. Joy Williams.Manager
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam