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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
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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!
• 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.
  • +447031860053 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: Brown catson <info_loto_claim@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 21 Jul 2007 13:06:56 +0100 (BST)
Subject: WINNERS IDENTIFICATION FORM


Dear Lucky Winner, Mr friedrick grune, We officially acknowledged the receipt of your email and extend a very warm congratulation to you for your lucky prize awards.

Please confirm these information and get back to us within six hours to let us know when you will be available in our office here in UK to resume the processing of your wins or if you cannot make it to come we might help you also to arrange an attorney (A lawyer) who will assist you in processing your wins (fund) here in the United Kingdom.

For further enquiries or updates of your file, feel free to contact the undersigned. We pledge our best services at all times.

Congratulations!

Regards,

Claims Officer: Dr. BROWN CATSON

Telephone: +447031860053, +447024080881, +447031861201

WINNERS IDENTIFICATION FORM

BATCH:????????? REF: ?????????.

"PLEASE CLICK ON REPLY COMPLETE FORM AND SEND BACK"

1. FULL NAME: ____________________

2. GENDER: ________________________

3. MARITAL STATUS: _______________

4. MAILING ADDRESS: _____________

5. NATIONALITY: __________________

6. OCCUPATION: ___________________

7. PHONE AND FAX NUMBER: ________

8. PRESENT LOCATION_______________

Please do fill and send back to me ASAP,

NB: Please confirm your batch number.

HEREBY DECLARE I AM THE BONAFIDE OWNER/USER OF THE WINNING EMAIL ADDRESS, THAT THE INFORMATION GIVEN ABOVE ARE VALID, THAT I HAVE NEVER RECIEVED ANY PAYMENT FROM THE NATIONAL LOTTERY NOR HAS ANY OF MY RELATIVES FILED A CLAIM ON MY BEHALF.I HEREBY GIVE AUTHORISATION FOR THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF MY PRIZE WITH THE INFORMATION GIVEN ABOVE.



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam