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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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "claims office" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
• 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.
  • +447045736998 (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.
  • mrsimms11@yahoo.fr

Fraud email example:

From: file2000@mchsi.com (Toyota Car Promotions)
Date: Wed, 26 Sep 2007 08:59:20 +0000
Subject: YOUR WINNING REF. NO 799BV90

Toyota Car Promotions
Haandvaerkervej 8,1 UK-9000 Aalborg
CVR-nr. 25554493.

This is to inform you that you have been selected for a Cash prize of
£150,000.00 GBP and a Brand New Toyota Car (Toyota Camry) in our International
program which was held in September, 2007 in London UK. To view your car:

(http://www.toyota.com/camry)

Contact your Claims Officer:

Mr. Michael Simms
25 Atlantic Avenue Erlanger
HE5 8WD, London,
Email: mrsimms11@yahoo.fr
Phone Number: +44 704 573 6998

When contacting him, please provide him with your secret Pin Code TY7448500 and
your Reference Number 799BV90. You are also advised to provide him with the
under-listed information as soon as possible:

CLAIMS REQUIREMENTS:
1. Full Name:
2. Address:
3. Nationality:
4. Age:
5. Sex:
6. Occupation:
7. Phone/Fax:
8. Present Country:

Regards
Mr Teddy Lee.
Lottery Manager

--

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam