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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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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:
  • ",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.
  • +447045740907 (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.
  • firsttrustbank2@citromail.hu (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Chevron Texaco Lottery Office Mr.Corts Williams" <mr.cortswilliams@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2007 12:43:16 +0100 (BST)
Subject: LETTER FROM BANNY BLAST COMPANY.....CONTACT THE PAYING BANK


BANNY BLAST LOTTERY COMPANY
22 Baker Street,
London,
United Kingdom
W1U 3BW
REFERENCE NO:BAN/098105000
BATCH NO: BAN1005478BL

Attention:

How are you doing?.

I wish to welcome you formally to BANNY BLAST LOTTERY COMPANY. I am in reciept of your mail.It is my pleasure to inform you that your verification form has been received in our office and i am glad to inform you that you have been cleared as a winner of the BANNY BLAST AUGUST LOTTERY DRAW.

Meanwhile,Let me bring to your notice that your winning fund of $1,000,000 USD as been deposited in an offshore bank in United Kingdom and for you to claim your fund,you are to contact the paying bank via email lay out below.

You are to contact the paying bank immediately for fast transfer of your winnings and as soon as that is done, do keep me your agent updated so that i could give you advice on all necessary steps that you are to take if anything else arise.

Please find below the Bank Contact details.

BANK CONTACT DETAILS

Name of bank:First Trust Bank
Bank email:firsttrustbank2@citromail.hu
Bank phone number:+44 70457 40907

Name of transfer manager:Dr.Hamlet Stalone
Country:United Kingdom.

Note that when contacting the bank, you are to include this deposit/order number(LW20156) as the subject in order for your mail to be attended by the bank and also to easily verify you as a winner of our lottery.

Onces Again Congratulations!!!

Sincerely,

Mr.Corts Williams
(Lottery Agent)
BANNY BLAST LOTTERY COMPANY.


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam