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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• 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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "from: the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "hundred thousand u.s 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)
• 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.
  • +2348038950343 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • agent_george_johnson003@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: tinapa lottery award <fdhbgfnnn@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 18 Jul 2007 04:18:20 +0100
Subject: AWARD NOTIFICATION, FINAL NOTICE.



FROM: THE DESK OF THE VICE PRESIDENTMR.PAUL MARK.(TINAPA LOTTO INTERNATIONAL)PRIZE AWARD DEPT.REF NO: 12/0078/IPGBATCH NO: EGS/ 20054117/08ATTN: WINNER.RE: AWARD NOTIFICATION, FINAL NOTICE.We are pleased to inform you, that as a result of our RECENT LOTTERYDRAWS HELD ON THE 17th July 2007. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number:021-7276083-04 with serial number:31270-0 drew luckynumbers:05-06-12-14-38 which consequently won in the 5th category. You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay of (FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND U.S DOLLARS) in cash credited to file with REF: º.EGS/3662367114/13 Note that all participants in this lottery program have been selected randomly through a computer ballot system drawn from over 20,000Officials and 30,000 individual email addresses from all search engines and web sites,from Asia, Australia, NewZealand, Europe, North and South America, Middle East and Africa, as part of our International Promotions Program.This promotional program takes place every year,and is promoted andsponsored by eminent personalities like the Sultan of Brunei and othercorporate organizations.THIS IS TO IMPROVE THE LEVEL OF EDUCATION WORLDWIDE AND TO ENCOURAGE THE USE OF INTERNET AND COMPUTERS WORLDWIDE.Your fund is now deposited with Union Bank and insured in your name For security purpose and clarity,we advise that you keep your winninginformation confidential until your claims have been processed and your money remitted to your account.This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claims andunwarranted abuse of this programme by some participants.We look forward to your active participation in our next 1 milliondollars slot.To begin the processing of your prize you are to contact your claimsagent through our accredited Prize Transfer agents as stated below:Name: George JohnsonTEL: +234-803-895-0343 CALL HIM IMMEDIATELY WITH HIS ABOVE DIRECT PHONE NUMBER IF YOU ARE CALLING FROM (USA) THIS IS HOW YOU DIAL 011-234-803-895-0343 BUT IF YOU ARE CALLING FROM ANY OTHER COUNTRY,THIS IS HOW TODIAL +234-803-895-0343You are also advised to provide your claim agent with the under listed information as soon as possible send it to his two emailaddressesbelow,YOUR CLAIM AGENT E-MAIL ADDRESSES BELOW,E MAIL: agent_george_johnson003@yahoo.com agent_george_johnson01@yahoo.com1. Name in full2. Address3. Nationality4. Age5. Occupation6. Phone/Fax7. Batch Number8. Serial NumberAll winnings must be claimed not later than one month After the date ofthis notice.Please note,in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications,remember to quote your Batch number and Serial numbers in all correspondence.Furthermore,should there be any change of address do inform our agent as soon as possible.Congratulations!!!once more and thank you for being part of ourpromotional program.Bear in mind that 10% of your fund will be going to the lotteryorganization that played the lottery with peoples name and email addresses that should be after you most have received the fund in your account,the 10% would have been given to them,just because the fund has been insured and will not be deducted till you receive the fund in your account.Sincerely,MR.PAUL MARK.VICE PRESIDENT.TINAPA LOTTO INT'L
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam