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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:
  • "from: the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • +447011131250 (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.
  • smithpanicoofficer@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Promotion Department <pblwandyalbert54@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 2 Jun 2007 12:14:15 -0400
Subject: CONSOLATION PRIZE WINNING NOTICE!!!



FROM: THE DESK OF THE GROUP CO-ORDINATORINTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRICE AWARD DEPARTMENT.REF No: EGS/2251256003/02BATCH NO :10-23-44-72-80SERIAL NO: MUOTI/82536TICKET NO: WRNM/SMI/5990RE: AWARD NOTIFICATION/ FINAL NOTICE:POWER BALL LOTTERY E-WHEEL E-GAME 2007. CONSOLATION PRIZE WINNING NOTICE!!! We wish to congratulate you over your email success in our computer balloting sweepstake held on 30th May 2007. This is an end of the year bonanza and scientific computer game in which email addresses were used. It is a promotional programe aimed at encouraging internet users,therefore you do not need to buy ticket to enter for it. You have been approved for the star prize of total sum of ONE MILLION, THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATE DOLLARS (US$1,300,000.00) in cash . To claim your winning prize you are to contact the appointed agent HENK GIBSON as soon as possible for the immediate release of your winnings: Agent: Mr. Smith Panico Email: smithpanicoofficer@yahoo.co.uk Tel No: +447011131250 You must contact the appointed agent with your (1). Full names:(2). Residential address:(3). Phone number:(4). Fax number:(5). Occupation:(6). Sex:7. Age:(8). Nationality:(9). Present Country:(10).Next of kin name/address: (11).Passport Photograph (or any form of legal identification: Driver,sLicense etc.) via email to process the immediate payment of your prize. The Validity period of the winnings is for 14 working days hence you are expected to make your claims immediately, any claim not made before this date will be returned to European Union Treasury as Unclaimed. Yours Sincerely,Mrs Tracy Albert.Group -Coordinator) Copyright 1994-2006 The PowerBall Lotto Bv. All rights reserved. Terms of Service Guideline 77442 476170 4151170077
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam