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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "20 craven park, harlesden" (address often used in fake lottery scams)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "fiduciary agent" (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.
  • +447024093265 (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.
  • dept.microsoftteamclaimingagent@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: Microsoft Award Team <anniversary7@hotmail.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 10 Aug 2007 13:17:00 +0000
Subject: CONGRATULATION.



Microsoft Award Team
20 Craven Park, Harlesden London NW10,
United Kingdom. *Ref: BTD/931/07Batch: 501726B

WINNING NOTIFICATION
The prestigious Microsoft and AOL has set out and successfully organized a Sweepstakes marking the Annual anniversary and we rolled out over 1.000.000.00 (One Million Great British Pounds) in the middle of 2007 Anniversary Draws. Participants for the draws were randomly selected and drawn from a wide range of web hosts which we enjoy their patronage.

Your e-mail address as indicated was drawn and attached to ticket number 008995727495 with serial numbers SBTD/9080648302/06 and drew the lucky numbers 14-21-25-40-40-47(21) which subsequently won you 1,000,000.00 Pounds Sterlings. The draws registered as Draw number one was conducted in Brockley, London United Kingdom on the 25th of July 2007.

You are advised to contact your Fiduciary Agent with the following details to avoid unnecessary delays and complications.
Name (in Full) :
Country:
Address:
Direct Telephone No:
Age:
Occupation/position:
Ticket Number:
Batch Number:
Serial Number:
Lucky Numbers:
Amount won:
as indicated in this winning Notification and Phone numbers.Thank you for being part of this promotional award program. Our special thanks and gratitude to Bill Gates and his associates.
Thank you for being part of our commemorative Microsoft Award year Anniversary Draws.

Microsoft Claiming Agent
Mr.JOHN WILLIAMS.Tel:+44 702 409 3265Head Winning Claims Dept.microsoftteamclaimingagent@yahoo.com

_________________________________________________________________
The next generation of MSN Hotmail has arrived - Windows Live Hotmail
http://www.newhotmail.co.uk

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam