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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • +2348052328653 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: NATIONAL LOTTERY BOARD NATIONAL LOTTERY BOARD
<claims_dept04@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 4 Dec 2007 20:13:21 +0000
Subject: RECOMMENDATIONS/REQUIREMENTS.(CHEVRON/TEXACO LOTTERY).




Chevron Texaco Oil and Gas Company,#2 Chevron Drive Lekki Peninsula PMB 12825.
LAGOS STATE , NIGERIA.
+234-805-232-8653.

FROM THE DESK OF CHEVRON-TEXACO LOTTERY DEPARTMENT.
Dear Lucky Winner,

You are required to fill the form below and send scanned copy of either your driver's licence,I.d Card, international passport (photo page) or any other legally identifying document and send to us for identification purposes by the Courier delivery Company to deliver your parcel.
pls note that the secret question and answer will be asked at the point of delivery by the Courier Delivery Team/Men on the spot of delivery before handing your parcel funds over to you.




NAME OF RECIEVER


RECIEVER ADDRESS/COUNTRY


DIRECT PHONE #


SECRET QUESTION


ANSWER


Once again,the entire staff and i of this company Congratulates you as been one of this Month's Lottery Winner.
I did be incharge of your Lottery Winnings Funds.Do feel very free to call me at anytime you so desire for any clearification.

Best Regards,
Mr Femi Kuti.
(Lottery Claims Agent).
+234-805-232-8653.
==================================================================================================This e-mail is intended only for the above addressee. It may contain privileged information. If you are not the addressee you must not copy, distribute, disclose or use any of the information in it.If you have received it in error please delete it and immediately or notify the sender.==================================================================================================© 1995-2007 Chevron/Texaco Oil Company
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam