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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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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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 office" (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!

Fraud email example:

From: BRITISH TOBACCO VERIFICATION CENTRE <britishtobacco_claimsagent8@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2007 03:05:22 +0100 (BST)
Subject: ATTN


ATTENTION:

Your email address was selected randonmly amongst many others around the world in our last round of draws this month.This promotion is sponsored by British Tobacco Company.If you recieved a winning notification mail from our Co-ordinator, Karen Peterson of your being a winner, it means that you have been selected for a lump sum of`$1.500.000:00 USD.On behalf of staff and members i say congratulations.

REF NO: MELI-T/ 17-F044262312
Secret pin numbers 990-11-815-37-10-83
Serial number 66109-17
BATCH: 901/00319/HLP

1.Name in full:
2.Address:
3.Nationality:
4.Age:
5.Occupation:
6.Phone/Fax:
7.Present Country:
Winners are advised to keep their winning details/information from the
public to avoid fraudulent claim. *Winner under the age of 18 is
automatically disqualified.*Staff of the British Tobacco Company is not
to partake in this Lottery.

Regards,

Albert Gregory
Claims Officer


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam