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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")
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "cheque " (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!
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • +447031908621 (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.
  • email-barr_eric_processingattorney@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: Microsoft Lottery Uk <jon_howard_101@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2007 20:40:10 +0100 (BST)
Subject: RE:From: Microsoft Email Award Promo



From:MicroSoft Email Award Promo,
UK Roger Needham Building
7 JJ Thomson Ave
Cambridge CB3 0FB UNITED KINGDOM.
Tel:+447031908621
Tel:+447031912602
Harry John
Claims officer

Attention: Winner,

I received your email and have forwarded your winning cheque of GBP 5,500,000.00 POUNDS ($10,464,000 USD) to the processing department that will handle the processing. It will be delivered to you on the appropriate date choosed by you after you have taken care of the required cost. This is due to the insurance and other measure taken to secure your prize. Do make sure you call the processing department to confirm the receipt of your prize .


You are to contact the processing attorney at once with your full name, address and a valid phone number and all the requirements to process your cheque to you. You should also send to the attorney all your winning details like, Reg number, amount won, and the name of lottery won.

He will be responsible for every necessary documents that we will need to process your claims legally and you are to contact him before your dispatch notice Contact him on this email shown below.

TO: BARRISTER ERIC FORD ESQ.
Mr. Eric Ford.
Email-barr_eric_processingattorney@yahoo.co.uk
Tel:+447031925127

Please acknowledge receipt of this dispatch notice.

Congratulations once again from all our staff and management.

Yours Faithfully,
Harry John
Claims officer
Tel:+447031908621
Tel:+447031912602




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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam