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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • ",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!

Fraud email example:

From: FORTUNE ONLINE PROMO 2007 <foster44@emsergipe.com>
Reply-To: fortuneonlinepromo7410@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2007 14:27:47 -0300
Subject: FORTUNE ONLINE PROMOTION 2007

15 STAMFORD BRIDGE LIVERPOOL UNITED KINGDOMRef: FILO/98766/23/SVFYBatch: 15/25/1203Ticket Number: 025-11464992-750Dear Lucky Winner,THE FORTUNE LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL SEASONAL PROMOTIONPRIZE AWARDS WINNING NOTIFICATION.We are pleased to inform you of the result of the just=20concluded annual final draws of Fortune Manchester=20Zone A3, UK Annual Promo.However, no tickets were sold but all email addresses=20were assigned to different ticket numbers for=20representation and privacy. After this automated computer ballot, your e-mail=20address emerged as one of ten winners in the lst=20category for the second prize with the following=20data:You as well as the other winners are therefore to=20receive a cash prize of =A31,000,000(ONE MILLION BRITISH=20POUNDS) each from the total payout.Your prize award has been insured with your e-mail=20address and will be transferred to you upon meeting=20the requirements, statutory obligations,=20verifications,validations and satisfacto

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam