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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")
  • "million us dollars" (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)
  • ",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)
• 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.
  • +447031835069 (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.
  • claims_cyberworldintl@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Millinium Games/ Cyberworld Intl. <info_cyberworldintl@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2007 06:17:07 +0300
Subject: Memo: your email emerged in category one

Attn: Winner,
We wish to congratulate you over your email success in our computer balloting held on 13th June 2007. This is a Millennium Scientific Computer Game in conjunction with Cyber World International in which email addresses were used. It is a promotional program aimed at encouraging internet users; therefore you do not need to buy ticket to enter for it. Your email was attached to ticket number 525-6746-1902-440; with serial number 8926-45 drew the lucky numbers 13-15-22-37-39-43, and consequently won the lottery in the 1st category. Your refernce and batch numbers are (REF NO: LT/7914290166/CTV, BATCH: LM/51390-0/WGP) You have been approve for the star prize of US$1,000,000.00 [One Million US dollars].
 
To claim your winning prize you are to contact the appointed agent as soon as possible for the immediate release of your winnings:

Name: Shawn Kelly ( FOREIGN SERVICE AGENCY/CONSULTANT).
E-mail: claims_cyberworldintl@yahoo.co.uk
Telephone: +447031835069 , +447011137303

Do provide your claims agent with the following details:
Full name:
Mailing Address:
Tel:
Nationality:
Email:
Age:
Occupation:
Scan copy of any form of identity (Optional):

DISQUALIFICATION:
1. Staffs of Millennium Scientific Computer Game and Cyber World International
2. Anybody under the age of 18 as at the time the draw was conducted.
3. Failure to respond to this memorandum with the winning email.
3. Cannot provide the necessary details that will enable your claims agent verify your winnings.
4. Fails to meet up with the requirement that will enable your winnings to be delivered to you.
The Validity period of the winnings is for 30 working days hence you are expected to make your claims immediately.
Once again congratulations !!!

Best Regards,
Miltons Edlow. THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam