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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "claims office" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "may come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • ",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!
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • +447011147855 (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.
  • thommalcom@yahoo.it (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • info_tonybloon@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "THOMAS MALCOLM" <thommalcom1@yahoo.it>
Reply-To: thommalcom@yahoo.it
Date: Tue, 02 Oct 2007 07:25:09 +1200
Subject: With Love and trust


Dear friend,
This letter may come to you as a surprise due to the fact
that we have not yet met. I have to say that I have no
intentions of causing you any pains. My name is Thomas
Malcolm
Esq, a merchant in London , but taking treatment in France,
now I have been diagnosed with prostate and esophageal
cancer that was discovered very late due to lack of caring
for my health. It has defiled all form of medicine and right
now, I have only about a few months to live according to
medical experts. I have not particularly lived my life so
well, as I never really cared for anyone not even myself but
my business. Though I am very rich, I was never generous, I
was always hostile to people and only focus on my business
as that was the only thing I cared for. But now I reggret
all this as I now know that there is more to life than just
wanting to have or make all the money in the world.
Recently, I use to say to my self that if God should give me
a second chance I would have live it different way from how
I have lived. I was meditating on my hospital bed and
something told me that God is giving me a second chance by
keeping me alive though doctors said I won’t last
long. I know my time is near, that’s why I have willed
and given most of my properties and assets to my immediate
and extended family members and as well as some few close
friends. I have decided to give alms to charity
organizations, as I want this to be one of the last good
deeds I do on earth. So far.
I have distributed money to some charity organizations in
the U.A.E, London and Ireland . And I have also met two
people on the net who have helped me distribute money to
charity organizations in their country. Now my health is
deteriorating so badly, I really need you to help me
distribute the last of my fortune. You might be wondering
why I did not ask my close relatives to pick over this task.
But I once asked members of my family to close one of my
accounts and donate the money, which I have there to charity
organizations in Bulgaria ; they closed the account but
refused to donate the money to the organizations, some of
them even fled away with some of the money while the rest
shared the remaining money among themselves. From the way
they are acting around me, tells that they want me dead so
that they can talk about inheritance. Hence, I do not trust
them anymore, as they seem not to be contented with what I
have left for them. The last of my money which is a huge
cash deposit with a financial corporation abroad will be put
in your care if only you will agree.
I want you to help me collect this deposit and dispatched it
to charity organizations and let them know that it is I
Dennis Brown Esq that is making this generous donation. I am
writing this from my laptop computer in my hospital bed
where I wait for my time to come.
I pray for you to support and assist me with a good heart.
But the choice is yours
Please you can contact me through this email address:
thommalcom@yahoo.it
Be blessed my beloved,
Dennis Brown Esq.



MANAGER,INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE
AWARD DEPARTMENT
LOTTO 24 MEGA LOTTERY, UNITED KINGDOM.
89 New Fetter Lane London,EC4A 1AG U.K
MR. Jerry Smith
CO-ORDINATOR
LOTTO 24 MEGA LOTTERY 2007

Finally today, we announce the winners of the LOTTO 24 MEGA
LOTTERY held on 1st October 2007. Your company or your
personal e-mail address, attached to winning number
23-76-06-54-42-100, With serial number 647489, consequently
won in the Tenth lottery category.

You are therefore been approved for lump sums pay out of GBP
1.000.000.00 POUNDS ($1.723.448.18 USD) in cash Credited to
file REF NO: MSW/56B-672GH/L and winning number
23-76-06-54-42-100, this is from total prize money of GBP
5,000,000.00 POUNDS, shared among the five (5)international
winners in this category.

This Lotto 24 mega lottery is approved by the British Gaming
Board and also Licensed by the The International Association
of Gaming Regulators (IAGR).This promotional Lotto 24 is the
tenth of its kind and we intend to sensitize the public.To
begin the processing of your prize award you are to contact
your claims officer through our accredited Prize Transfer
agents via e-mail as stated below:

.All participants were selected through a computer ballot
system drawn form 42,000 Names, 6,000 names from each
continent, as part of International "E-MAIL" Promotions
Program, and for the Continues use of E-mail. Your fund
(certified Cashiers cheque) has been insured with your REF
NO: MSW/56B-672GH/L and winning number 23-76-06-54-42-100.
To claim your winning prize, you must first contact the
claims department by email for Processing and remittance of
your prize money to you. The claims processor is:

Name: MR.TONY BLOON
E-mail: info_tonybloon@yahoo.com.hk
Phone: +44- 701-114-7855


Do email the above email address, at once. In order to avoid
unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to
quote your reference and winning numbers in all
correspondences with your claims officer.


Sincerely,
Secretary
Mr. Carlos Hamer

Lotto24 is a registered trademark.
Copyright 2000-2005 all rights reserved.
PATENT PEND. NO. PA 2000 01615.
http://www.lotto24.co.uk

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam