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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:

• 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: SEA-GATE FINANCIAL TRUST FUNDS <drharrisonfinchleydept@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 18 Jul 2007 10:20:23 +0100 (BST)
Subject: HOW YOU EMERGED A WINNER IN THIS YEAR'S LOTTERY CONTEXT



Attn: Frau Traumacher


Your mail was received in this office not too long ago and we quite understand that you have some doubt in your mind towards this.

It will be of great joy to me making you to understand how you emerged a winner in this year's email lottery context held in the presence of over one hundred spectators.

This is an electronic draw game organised by the United Kingdom Government to encourage Internet user and also a means of poverty alleviation programme. Initially, this was done within the United Kingdom and environs but later extend to other neighbouring countries and the world at large.

As a matter of fact, it is an electronic selection of emails picked randomly and through thorough screening. Only ten winners can emerge in a draw which you are one of them.

I want to congratulate you once again for your emergence as one of the lucky winners in this draw, and i do hope you find this offer a helpful one to you and your family.

Still, i will like to thank you for your swift response to our notification and i do believe you understand how you emerged a winner.

Lastly, your mail is expected soon and endeavour to fill in your full details for the processing of your claims.

Regards,
Dr Harrison Finchley.
Funds Release/Transfer Manager.
ALWAYS AT YOUR SERVICE.





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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam