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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "claims office" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "overseas claims unit" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "million united state dollars" (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)
  • "million dollars" (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)
  • ",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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
• 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.
  • +2348067967168 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • samrobert2007@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: YAHOO INTERNET PROMOTIONAL LOTTERY EMAIL ONLINE PROMOTIONAL LOTTERY <henry_100200@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <samrobert2007@yahoo.fr>
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2007 15:31:31 +0000
Subject: CONGRATULATION!!!





Ref.Number: MICRO.00457YGH
Batch:ABC546UY

Dear Lucky Winner,

Congratulations as we happily announce to you today that the draw Of the YAHOO ONLINE LOTTERY, online International Lottery program held on the 17th of August 2007 in Australia. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: G276017-487 with Serial number 493-678 drew the lucky numbers:[ 7-28-87-65-69-73 ].

The Bonus Ball [02], which subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category i.e, matches 3 plus bonus. You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of $1,000,000,00 Pounds Sterline(One Million United State Dollars Only) credited to file nos KTU/9023118308/03. This is from a total cash prize of $10,000,000.00 (Ten Million Dollars) shared amongst the first Ten (10)lucky winners in this category i.e Match 4 plus bonus.

All participants for the online version were selected randomly from World Wide Web sites through computer draw system and extracted from over 100,000 email addresses of unions, associations and corporate bodies that are listed online. This promotion takes place yearly. Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our U booklet representative office in Africa Nigeria as indicated in your play coupon. In view of this, Your $1,000,000,00 (One Million Dollars) would be released to you by our payment offices here in Africa. Our African agent Mr.Sam Robert Will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your funds as soon as you contact him. For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential until your claim is processed and your money remitted to you in whatever manner you deem fit to claim your prize.

This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program.
Please be warned. To claim your won prize money, please contact our claims Office agent with the verification form below, Overseas Claims Unit,Fiduciary Agent Office for YAHOO ONLINE LOTTERY PROMOTIONS.

Name: Mr.Sam Roberts.
>From Africa.
phone number:Tel No: +2348067967168
Email :samrobert2007@yahoo.fr

KINDLY FILL THE CLAIMS VERIFICATION/PROCESSING FORM BELOW SEND TO HIM:

FULL NAMES OF BENEFICIARY:..........
CONTACT ADDRESS:....................
CITY/STATE:.........................
COUNTRY:............................
NATIONALITY:........................
SEX:.......................
AGE:.................
MARITAL STATUS: ...................
TEL NO:............................
FAX:............
OCCUPATION: ......................
AMOUNT WON:........................
REFENCE NO:................
BATCH NO: ...........

Our agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your funds as soon as you contact him on the email and telephone stated above. You may wish to establish contact with him via e-mail with the particulars presented above citing the batch and reference numbers to this letter. All Our winners are assured of the utmost standards of confidentiality, and press anonymity until the end of the proceedings, and beyond where they so desire. Be further advised to maintain the strictest level of confidentiality until the end of proceedings to circumvent problems associated with fraudulent claims. This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program. PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL, BUT CONTACT YOUR CLAIMS OFFICE AGENT DIRECTLY BY E-Mail:samrobert2007@yahoo.fr

Goodluck from me and members of staff of the YAHOO ONLINE LOTTERY INC.

Yours Faithfully
Mr.Henry Frank M.

Online coordinator for YAHOO ON-LINE PROMOTIONS.
International Program.
Copyright © 2000-2008 The Yahoo Australain Online Lottery Inc.
All rights reserved. Terms of Service - Guidelines

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam