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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
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• 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:

• 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:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "deadline" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
• 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 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.
  • agentm.cole@googlemail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Sky Lottery Promo Alert <sky-alert9@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <agentm.cole@googlemail.com>
Date: Wed, 26 Dec 2007 10:03:21 -0700
Subject: ***Award Notification! CONGRATULATIONS!! Your Email Has Won 3
Million USD !!! ***


ATTN: WINNER Reference Number: 920/210/4509 Batch Number: 742-109-527-UK43DATED 20TH December 2007. This is a final notice on your Lottery Award in the "C" category of the Computer Ballot System of selection. As the Claims Coordinator of the Sky Lottery Uk,you are advised to contact your claims agent to finalize claims process and remittance of funds to you. Contact Claims Agent: Mr. Michael ColeSky Lottery Processing Center Email: agentm.cole@googlemail.com Foreign Service Director.I want to categorically state that there will be no further extension of deadline for any winner who is unable to finalize further claims procedures before the deadline date of 20TH January, 2008, as such funds will be automatically tagged as unclaimed and returned for the next sweepstake Winners are to immediately request for the certificate of claims as soon as claims process is completed. Be advised that most payments have been approved,and authorization will only be based on your response within the next 72 working hours from now. General Note: You are to keep all winning details away from the general public to avoid fraudulent claim from a third party, any breach of confidentiality by direct/indirect exposure of winning details/information will lead to an irreversible disqualification. We hope to speedily process all winnings, and remit funds to you within 7 business days after the finalization of claims with attached agent/foreign service director. In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please include phone number, date of birth,reference/batch number for verification, in every correspondence regarding your claims processing.Furthermore, should there be any change in your address, do inform your claims agent as soon as possible. Congratulations once again from all embers of our staff and thanks for being part of our promotions program. Best Regards,Mr. Tony Smith [CLAIMS COORDINATOR]Compliments of the Season from Sky Lottery
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam