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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "million british pounds" (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)
  • "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!
• 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.
  • +447011129864 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: british onlinelottery <uk_pool-4-@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 2 Aug 2007 17:57:34 -0600
Subject: Congratulation!!!



BRITISH AMERICAN ONLINE LOTTERY COMMISSION:CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPT.*******************************************STEPHENSON WAY CAMDEN LONDON NW1 2HX *******************************************Ref: ZA/311982/08/MOBatch: 17/3891/09Attn: Winner
We are pleased to announce to you the draw of the British American New Year Bonanza Lottery Promo held on the 27th of july 2007 (30/07/2007) in London. Your e-mail address attached to the following numbers listed below:Ticket number: 10017811345Serial Number: 320912/02Drew the Lucky Numbers: 00-10-0-20937-06The above listed numbers subsequently make's you one of the bonafide winner of the lottery promo in the 2nd category. You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of GBP? 2,500,000.00 (Two Million, Five Hundred Thousand, British Pounds Sterling's) in cash credited to file Ref: ZA/311982/08/MO.This is from a total cash prize of GBP?45,000.000.00 (Forty Five Million British Pounds) shared amongst the first fifteen (15) lucky winners in this category "A".Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our British booklet representative office in Europe as indicated in our play coupon. In view of this, your £2,500,000.00 GBP (Two Million, Five Hundred Thousand,British Pound Sterling's) would be released to you via Bank to Bank Transfer/Certified Cheque by our affiliate Bank. Our agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your funds to you as soon as with him.All participants were selected randomly from 'World Wide Web' site e.g. WWW.MSN.COM, WWW.COMCAST.NET, WWW.YAHOO.COM, WWW.EARTHLINK.NET, e.t.c through computer draw system and extracted from over 100,000 companies.For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claims is processed and your money remitted to you. This is a part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some unscrupulous elements.Please be warned. To file for your claim, please contact your claims agent with the below details for processing of your claims and endeavour to list out your winning numbers when filing your claim.************************************************************Name: Dr. Richard Allen.Tel:+44 701 112 9864Fax:+44 709 288 3110E-mail: drrichardallen@yahoo.co.ukForeign Services Manager, Payment and Release order Department,BRITISH AMERICAN ONLINE LOTTERY COMMISSION, UNITED KINGDOM*************************************************************Note that all won funds must be filed for within two weeks of receipt of this notification to avoid impersonation arising to the issue of double claim.To avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please quote your reference/batch numbers in any correspondences with us or our designated agent.Your are advised to acknowledge the receipt of your notification by return phone call.Congratulations once more from all members and staffs of this program.Yours Faithfully,Mr. Ashley White. British American Online Lottery Coordinator.
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam