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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!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• 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:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "u.k " (this email uses bad English)
• 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: david barry <david_barry2007@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2007 21:55:10 -0400
Subject: U.K National Lottery Commission



U.K National Lottery CommissionSupport Centre Bevan House,51 Bevan Avenue,London,United Kingdom,1st November,2007.ATTENTION: Winner, This is the official result of the The U.K National lottery held on 30th of october, 2007. Your e-mail address drew the winning lucky numbers:04, 05, 16, 19, 21, 49 & 20. You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of £250,000.00 (Two hundred and Fifty thousand pounds sterling) in cash credited to file REF NO.UNL/26510460037/02.To file for your claim, contact our claims agent below.Mr.Chub RockE-mail: ellis.stalla@yahoo.comCongratulations!!!Stella Ellis(Mrs)Zonal Co-ordinator
1. FULL NAMES: _______________________________________________________
2.NATIONALITY: _______________________________________________________
3. DATE OF BIRTH ________________________________________
4. SEX: _________________________
5. MARITAL STATUS: _____________________________________
6. CONTACT ADDRESS: _____________________________________________
7. TELEPHONE NUMBER: ___________________
8. OCCUPATION: _________________________________
9. WINNING E-MAIL ADDRESS:________________________________
10.REF/ BATCH NUMBERS:_________________________________________
11.TOTAL AMOUNT WON:_________________________________________

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam