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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:
  • "overseas claims unit" (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)
• 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.
  • +447045722418 (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.
  • martin_phillips001@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "heineken light promotion" <onlinenotice@core.com>
Reply-To: martin_phillips001@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Mon, 09 Jul 2007 15:58:36 -0400
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION.


"Heineken Light" Promotion"

HEINEKEN BOTTLING COMPANY
#55 SCHOOL GATE PLACE,STAMFORD BRIDGE,
LONDON, SW1V 3DW. UNITED KINGDOM.
"Heineken Light Champions" Promotion Notification.

Dear Winner,

This is to inform you of the Award of One Million Great Britain Pounds
Sterling (1,000,000 GBP) from Heineken Beer Company Promotions. This
promotional award is to raise the profile of Heineken beer consumers
males /females aged 18 to 85 in rural and urban centers to support the
spirit of Footballing.

The online promotions build email lists were generated from the World
Wide Web. This promotion takes place annually to challenge and to take
market share from the popular Dutch import beer. The tactics included
live events, local campaigns and general buzz to establish the brand
one neighborhood at a time in major urban / rural centers to support the
spirit of Footballing.

Your Email Ref Number falls within our European booklet
representative's office in United Kingdom . In view of this, your award
of One. Million Great Britain Pounds Sterling (1,000,000 GBP) will be released
to you by our payment office in United Kingdom. Our United Kingdom Promotional
Officer will commence the process to facilitate the release of your
funds as soon as you contact him. Find the contact details below;

Overseas Claims Unit
Heineken Beer Promotional Officer.
agent: Martin Phillips MR
Email: martin_phillips001@yahoo.co.uk
Phone:+44-704-572-2418


Regards.
Mr.Hamilton Spectator.
President.

Copyright 2007 Heineken Light Champions Promotion Award. All Rights Reserved.
"Heineken Light" Promotion"

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam