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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:

• The following fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "20 craven park, harlesden" (address often used in fake lottery scams)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "claims agent" (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!

Fraud email example:

From: Microsoft Promotion Award Team <notice-2000@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 8 Sep 2007 01:37:14 +0000
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION



Microsoft Promotion Award Team20 Craven Park, HarlesdenLondon NW10,United Kingdom.Dear Lucky winner,
WINNING NOTIFICATION
The prestigious Microsoft and AOL has set out and successfullyorganised a Sweepstakes marking the end of year anniversary we rolledout over 100,000.000.00 (One Hundred Million Great Britain Pounds)Your email address as indicated drawn and attached toRef: BTD/968/06 Batch: 409978E Ticket Number:008795727498Serial Numbers BTD/9080648302/06 Lucky NumbersfmDTY14-21-25-39-40-47(20)Amount won £1,000,000.00 (One Million Great Britain Pounds)Please Contact your claims agent
Mr.lucas CookEmail:claims_agent_mic@yahoo.co.ukYou are advised to contact your fiduciary agent with the followingdetails:
Your Full Names: Date of birth:Sex:Address: Nationality:Country: Occupation:Ticket Numbers:Serial Number:Lucky Numbers:telephone number:Congratulations once more from members of staff of MicrosoftPromotion Team, and thank you for being part of our promotionalprogram.
Sincerely,Dr.Ann HawkesHead Customercare ServiceMicrosoft Promotion Award
_________________________________________________________________
Explore the seven wonders of the world
http://search.msn.com/results.aspx?q=7+wonders+world&mkt=en-US&form=QBRE

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam