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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:
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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "claims office" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • ",000,000" (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.
  • +447024066922 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: wilson brett <wilsonbreet2013@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <claimofficer555@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 8 Aug 2007 19:56:02 +0000
Subject: ONLINE WINNER



DEAR SIR/MADAM,
WE ARE PLEASED TO INFORM YOU THAT AS A RESULT OF OUR RECENT DRAWS HELD ON THE 8TH OF AUGUST 2007.
Your e-mail address attached to ticket number 27522465896-532 with serial number 652-662 drew lucky numbers 7-14-18-23-31-45 which consequently won in the 2nd category.
You have therefore been approved for a lump sum payout of 1,000,000 (ONE MILLION POUNDS STERLING)
Note that All participants in this lottery program have been selectedrandomly through a computer ballot system drawn from over 20,000 companies and 30,000,000 individual email addresses from all searchengines and web sites.
This promotional program takes place every year,and is promoted andsponsored by eminent personalities like the Sultan of Brunei, bill gates of microsoft inc and other corporate organisations. this is to encourage the use of the internet and computers worldwide.
For security purpose and clarity, we advise that you keep your winninginformation confidential until your claims have been processed and yourmoney remitted to you.
This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claims andunwarranted abuse of this program by some participants. We look forward to your activeparticipation in our next year 50 million slot.
To file for your claim,please contact our fiducially agent claims officer via email as soon as possible for the immediate release of your winnings:Overseas Claims/United Kingdom Payment UnitContact Person: Mr.Bob SmithEmail: claimofficer555@yahoo.co.ukTel:+44-7024-0669-22
Remember,all winnings must be claimed not later than one month After the date of this notice.
Please note, in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications,remember to quote your reference number and batch numbers in allcorrespondence.
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 our promotional program.
NOTE: YOU ARE AUTOMATICALLY DISQUALIFIED IF YOU ARE BELOW 18 YEARS OF AGE.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
At your disposal, I remain.Very Truly Yours,Wilson Brett.Lottery Co-ordinator.
_________________________________________________________________
See what you’re getting into…before you go there
http://newlivehotmail.com/?ocid=TXT_TAGHM_migration_HM_viral_preview_0507

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam