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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "national lottery promotion" (no such lottery exists)
  • "uk national lottery" (can only win this lottery if you bought a ticket)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "to your nominated bank account" (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)
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• 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.
  • +447011128104 (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.
  • markpeterson@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "INFO DESK" <infodesk33@btconnect.com>
Date: Fri, 21 Sep 2007 13:18:42 +0100
Subject: WINNING

UK LOTTERY ONLINE NOTIFICATION DESK.
GOVERNMENT ACCREDITED LICENSED!!!
BRITISH ONLINE INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY
IS REGISTERED UNDER THE DATA PROTECTION ACT OF;
(Registration Z720633X).
NATIONAL LOTTERY
PROMOTIONS/ PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT.
79 BOVILL ROAD LONDON. SE23 1EL.
Ref: EGS/2251256003/02
Batch: 14/0017/1PD
WINNING NOTIFICATION
The board of directors and entire member of staff of the National
Lottery wishes to inform you of the result of the (Email Address
Ballot)online Sweepstakes international program held on the 21St
September, 2007, at the British Headquarter. Your email account have been picked as a
winner of One Million Eight Hundred Fifty Thousand Pounds Sterling
(£1,850,000.00) in cash credited to file KTU/9023118308/03. This is
from a total sum of (£12,950,000.00) shared amongst seven winners.
This results for 21St September, 2007 is now released to you today and
your email address attached to ticket number: 56475600545 188 with Serial
number 5368/02 drew the lucky numbers -4-15-34-40-44-46 and bonus ball
-45- in the Lotto, participants were selected through a computer ballot
system drawn from Microsoft users from company and individual email
address users.
Your fund is now deposited in an offshore bank with a hardcover
insurance. Due to the mix up of some numbers and names, we advice that
you keep this award from public notice until your claim has been
processed and your money remitted to your nominated bank account or
winning cheque sent to you, this is part of our security protocol to
avoid double claiming or unwarranted taking advantage of this program by the
general public.Be advice to keep your winning information confidential until your
claims have been processed and your money remitted to you. This is part
of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse
of this program. For the release of your winning, kindly contact your
claims supervisory officer at
**********************************************
The British Lottery Head Quarters, PROMOTIONS/ PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT.
79 BOVILL ROAD LONDON. SE23 1EL.
Payment Release Order Department Contact Person:Mr. Mark Peterson,
Tel: +44 701 112 8104
Email: markpeterson@sify.com
***********************************************
You are therefore advised to give the following informations to the
fiduciary
Mr. Mark Peterson via email markpeterson@sify.com
1. Full name and address:
2. Country:
3. Tel and fax number:
4. Occupation: 5.Email Address: 6.Sex:
7.Age:
Congratulations from the entire member of staff and thank you
for being part of our email account users program.
Yours faithfully,
Mr. Mark Richards
Online coordinator for UK NATIONAL LOTTERY
Sweepstakes International Program.
NATIONAL LOTTERY.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam