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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!
  
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• 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!
• 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.
  • +447045729645 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: Euro Millions <harrison_32@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <euromillions_agent11@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2007 03:21:52 +0100
Subject: Hello Winner



Euro Millions-VIRTUAL WORLD DIRECT JACKPOT BONANZA PROMO.We are pleased to inform you of the result of Euro Millions,which was held on Friday,12 Sep 2007. Your e-mail addressattached to e-ticket number:14 16 30 36 46 (02-08), with Prize Number (match 1): 06000007 drew a prize of £1,000,000 per winner. This lucky draw came first in the 2nd Category of the Sweepstakes.In order to avoid unnecessary delays with your claim,You are requested to contact your claims clearance officer Mr.CHRIS CONNOR With the informations below, to assist youwith the processing of your winnings and subsequent payments. NAME:MR.CHRIS CONNOREMAIL: euromillions_agent11@yahoo.co.ukTel: +44 7045729645 NAME:-------------------------ADDRESS:--------------------------EMAIL:-------------------------------COUNTRY:-----------------------------PHONE NUMBER:--------------------------AGE:-------------------------------SEX;--------------------------------OCCUPATION:--------------------------ANNUAL INCOME:------------------------ Congratulations.Yours Faithfully,Harrison Kendrick.Coordinator: Euro Millions
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam