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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")
  • ",000,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "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. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• 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: NIKLAS FLIPPO <fudiciaryagent@vodafoneworld.org>
Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2007 18:43:33 +0000
Subject: RE: CONGRATULATIONS!!!



We gladly wish to inform you of the draws of the VODAFONE ONLINE PROMOTION INTERNATIONAL in conjunction with the National Organizing Committee of the 2007 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE CUP held on the 23rd May, 2007 in Athens Greece. However, your e-mail address assigned to E-Tag number 193.45.24.02 in the Random Computer Selection System(RCSS) of email addreses, flagged outthe lucky numbers 21-7-14-04-19-34 and consequently won you the lottery in the 1st category. CONGRATULATIONS!!! Please be informed that all participants in this Vodafone promotion program were selected randomly through a computer ballot system drawn from over 500,000 companies and 50,000,000 individual e-mail addresses. This Vodafone promotion is Organized by the host country incollaboration with FIFA. Funds for the draws have been contributed by the major sponsors of the games which include adidas, Hyundai, FujiFilm, MasterCard, Gillette, Cocacola, Continental,Toshiba,Mcdonalds and a host of others. Due to possible mix up of some numbers and email contacts, we ask that you keep this award strictly from public notice until your claim has been processed and your money remitted. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming or unscrupulous acts by some participants of this program.With respect to the above, you have therefore been
approved for payment of a lump sum of Five Hundred Thousand Pounds (£500.000.00 GBP) in certified cheque credited to File No:LP/26510460037/02. This is from a total cash prize of five million pounds(500,000.00 GBP) shared among the ten international winners in the 1st category. Along with (A FIRST CATEGORY RAFFLE DRAW TICKET) To begin the claim processing of your prize you are to contact the claims agent with the form below, You are required to fill this form to facilitate the processing of your claims which will lead to the payment of your prize to you as required. PAYMENT RELEASE ORDER FORM 1. Full Names: 2. Address: 3. Age: 4. Sex: 5. Marital Status: 6. Occupation: 7. Phone numbers: 8. Nationality: 9.Country of Residence:

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam