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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:

• 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:
  • "overseas claims unit" (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.
  • +4407017015010
• 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.
  • mrkellywofersonbtl@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: lotteryonline101@mchsi.com (Mrs Harry Juliet)
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2007 19:53:17 +0000
Subject: IMPORTANT NOTICE (Contact Mr. Kelly Wolferson)

BRITISH INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY INC.
5th Floor East
Commonwealth Centre
55 Currie Street London L70 1NL.
United Kingdom.

Dear Lucky Winner,

RE: BONUS LOTTERY PROMOTION PRIZE AWARDS WINNING NOTIFICATION

We are pleased to notify you the draw (999) of the BRITISH INTERNATIONAL
LOTTERY,Online Sweepstakes International Lottery Program, Participants were
selected through a computer ballot system drawn from a pool of over 25,000
names.The result of our computer draw (#978) selected your name and email
address attached to e-ticket number: 56475600545 188 with Serial number 5368/02
drew the lucky numbers: 4-8-17-18-20-23 (27 bonus ball), which subsequently won
you the lottery in the 2nd category i.e. match 5 plus bonus.

You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of £ 1,000,000.00 ( One
Million Great Britain Pounds Sterling) in cash credited to file
KTU/9023118308/03.This is from a total cash prize of £ 10,533,120 shared amongst
the first Six (6) lucky winners in this category i.e. Match 5 plus bonus.

Your prize award has been insured in your name and is ready for claims. This
promotion takes place weekly. Please note that your lucky winning number falls
within our European booklet representative office in Europe as indicated in your
play coupon. In view of this, your £ 1,000,000.00 ( One Million Great Britain
Pounds Sterling) would be released to you by any of our payment offices in Europe.

Please be informed that claims not processed within the stipulated period may be
forfeited to the pool without further notice.

Our European agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the
release of your funds as soon as you contact him. You may wish to establish
contact via e-mail with the particulars presented below citing the batch and
reference numbers to this letter between the hours of 8.00am- 7.30pm on Monday
through Friday

BRITISH INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY : WINNING PRIZE CLIAMS-
LOTTERYCLAIMS APPLICATION FORM-C (Prize Winning Receipt)
=============================================================
FULL NAMES:
ADDRESS:
COUNTRY:
SEX:
AGE:
MARITAL STATUS:
OCCUPATION:
E-MAIL ADDRESS:
TELEPHONE NUMBER:
=============================================================
SEND ALL YOUR CLAIMS AND INQUIRIES TO
Our Overseas Claims Unit
Contact Person: Mr. Kelly Wolferson
Email: mrkellywofersonbtl@yahoo.co.uk
Tel: +44-0701-701-5010
Fax: +44-0702-093-5734

Congratulations from me and the entire members of THE BRITISH LOTTERY.

At your disposal, we remain.
Very Truly Yours,

Mrs. Harry Juliet
Online Co-ordinator.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam