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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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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• What can you do when you receive 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:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "your urgent reply" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
• 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!

Fraud email example:

From: "BRITISH G-LOTTERY UK" <uk.glotto2007@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2007 20:52:48 +0100
Subject: More Details Needed.


[image: Google]

ATTN:WINNER ,

This correspondence officially confirms that we are in receipt of
instructions relating to the payment of your lottery winnings of GBP 75,000
British pounds Sterling,GOOGLE MEGA JACKPOT PROMO is a way of showing
appriciation to satisfy the cravings of the ever-growing number of in useof
our product.

After randomly selecting 15,000 participants from aninitial database of
300,000 emails and zoning all participants by their respective continents
from across the globe.

We produced an extensive list from which you have emerged as one of the
winners of the Promotional Grand Draw prize. Please complete the form below
with correct information and email back to us with a return email so that we
can have a precise and comprehensive record of our winners.

Your prize check has been vaulted safely with our corresponding bank prior
to you readiness to complete your
claims.

Looking forward to your urgent reply.

THIS SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY THE BENEFICIARY OF THE STATED FUND, FOR
VERIFICATION BEFORE TRANSFER.

BENEFICIARY FIRST NAME.................
BENEFICIARY LAST NAME..................
RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS....................
DATE AND PLACE OF BIRTH................
TEL. NUMBER............................
FAX NUMBER.............................
EMAIL ADDRESS..........................
AMOUNT WON.............................
BATCH NUMBER...........................
REFERENCE Nº...........................
OCCUPATION.............................
MARITAL STATUS.........................

DECLARATION:

I...............................................................HEREBY
DECLARE THAT THE ABOVE DATA ARE TRUE. THAT MY CLAIMS AGENT SHALL ACT AS A
FACILITATOR IN THE TRANSFER OF THE TOTAL FUND TO ME.

DATE...................................
(YOUR FULLNAMES).......................
Once More, Accept my congratulations.
CONGRATULATION
BRITISH GOOGLE WORLD

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam