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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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.

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 agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• 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.
  • +447045734135 (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.
  • janefunne@yahoo.ca

Fraud email example:

From: power ball mega lottery <powerbal.cashoff2@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2007 22:33:45 +0000
Subject: POWERBALL MEGA LOTTERY



POWERBALL MEGA LOTTERYBridgewater House,58 Whitworth Street,Manchester M1 6BB UKDear Winner,
RE: POWERBALL PRIZE AWARD
We are pleased to announce the winners and the result of the
Multi country powerball mega lottery online Cyber Lotto Draws of the POWERBALLEUROPEAN LOTTERY PROMOTION that was just concluded.The online cyber lotto draws was conducted from anexclusive list of 100,000 e-mail addresses of individual andcorporate bodies picked by an advanced automated random computer searchfrom the internet. No tickets were sold.After this automated computer ballot,yourE-mail address emerged as one of the Winners in the Category "A" with thefollowing particulars:
Powerball striking Number:2-5-16-36-40-36Powerball Code Number: PBE/1O/2007Powerball Online Reference Number: PBE/11/EURYour Email Address was attached to Powerball Online Reference
Number:
PBE/11/EUR and picked as one of the 2007 Powerball EuropeanOnline Winners in category "A" winning you a sum of sevenHundred and fifty thousand Euro.Hence you are eligible for theprize of Seven Hundred and fifty thousand Euros.Please contactthe under listed Fiduciary Coordinator Via Email immediately for processing of your claim:
Fiduciary Officer :Jane Furness Gordon(Mrs)Email Address: janefunne@yahoo.ca / powerballcash.office@yahoo.co.ukPhone : +44 70457 34135
You are advised to contact your claims agent with the following
Details.
Claims Requirements:
1.Full Name:...........................................
2.ResidentialAddress:..................................
3.Age:.................................................
4.Occupation:..........................................
5.Direct Phone umber:..............Fax:................
6.State of Origin:.....................................
7.Country:.............................................
THE MODE OF PAYMENT PREFERABLE TO YOU FROM THE AFOREMENTIONED
OPTIONS BELOW;
(1) BANK WIRE TRANSFER
(2) CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT / (Not that if choosen this asoption,your draft shall be deliver by an appointed couriercompany in bangkok thailand )
When making your claims quote your Powerball Online ReferenceNumber in the subject of your email.You are required keep thisaward to yourself, especially your Particulars,until your claimhas been processed and your money remitted to you. Once again on behalfof all our staff.CONGRATULATIONS!!!This email message is from the POWERBALL EUROPEAN LOTTERYPROMOTION PROGRAM. If you are not the intended recipient, please do notcopy, disclose,disseminate this email for any purpose outside what is meant for.Abuse to this email is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intendedrecipient, please notify
the sender immediately by returning.
Sincerely,
David Thomas ClarkPromotion ManagerPowerball Lottery Europe.
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam