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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
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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:

• 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.
  • +447045722313 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Gary lampard" <medalstonegames@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 05 Jun 2007 17:15:38 +0000
Subject: Acknowledgment

Dear Winifride Kirschst,

All your winnings filles have been forwarded to SILVOSTAR FINANCE COMPANY.

Please contact the under listed claims officer as soon as possible for the
immediate release of your winnings:


Mr. Mike Williams
Claims Department Manager
SILVOSTAR FINANCE COMPANY
Email: claimsagent@silvostarfinanceuk.com
Tel: +44 70457 22313
Tel: +44 70457 12216
Tel: +44 70457 08726
Fax: +44 70059 61267

All your winnings will be transfered to you with all clearance. You do not
have to worry about the German money transfer laws for the transfer of your
winnings to be made, as your winings will be transfer by the bank of England
while all verification will be made clearly.

Once again on behalf of all our staff, CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Sincerely,
Mr. Frank Johnson
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 fax or email "Mr. Mike A. Williams"
claimsagent@silvostarfinanceuk.com

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam