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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "uk national lottery" (can only win this lottery if you bought a ticket)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "overseas claims unit" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • ",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)
  • ",500,000" (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 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.
  • ukclaimsunit666@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: ukclaimsunit67@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2008 03:46:22 -0500
Subject: LOTTERY AWARDS WINNING NOTIFICATION

P O Box 1010
Liverpool, L70 1NL
UNITED KINGDOM
(Customer Services)
Ref: UK/9420X2/68
Batch: 074/05/ZY369
WINNING NOTIFICATION:

http://lottery.co.uk/results/

Dear Lucky Winner,

RE: BONUS LOTTERY PROMOTION PRIZE AWARDS WINNING NOTIFICATION

We are pleased to notify you the draw (999) of the UK NATIONAL LOTTERY,
Online Sweepstakes International Lottery Program
held on 19th January 2008.

Participants were selected through a computer online ballot system
drawn from a pool of over 250,000,000 emails drawn
from Europe, America, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Middle-East, parts
of Africa, and North & South America as part of
our international promotions programme conducted
annually to encourage prospective overseas entries. We hope with part
of your prize awards, you will take part in our
subsequent lottery jackpots.

The result of our computer draw (#978) selected your name and email
address attached to e-ticket number: 56475600545 188
with Serial number 5368/02 drew the lucky numbers: 06, 10, 30, 32, 43,
45, (23 Bonus Ball), which subsequently won you
the lottery in the 2nd category i.e. match 5 plus
bonus. You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of
£250,000 ( TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND POUNDS
STERLING) in cash credited to file KTU/9023118308/03.This is from a
total cash prize of £1,500,000 GBP shared amongst
the first Six (6) lucky winners in this category i.e. Match
5 plus bonus.

UK NATIONAL LOTTERY : WINNING PRIZE CLIAMS-
LOTTERYCLAIMS APPLICATION FORM-C (Prize Winning Receipt)
========================================================
[FULLNAME OFWINNER]..............
[CURRENTADDRESS]..................
[COUNTRY/REGION].....................
[STATE/PROVINCE]......................
[AGE] ................
[SEX]...............
[MARTIALSTATUS]......................
[OCCUPATION]...........................
[CURRENTEMAIL].......................
[TEL/FAX]...................................
[ENTRYTICKET NR]....................
[DRAWDATE]............................

Overseas Claims Unit
United Kingdom Lottery Fiduciary
Contact Person:Dr. Williams Parker

Email: ukclaimsunit666@yahoo.co.uk

Tel:+44-07031908323
+44-07031855911
+44-07031855912
+44-07024034814

Our winners are assured of the utmost standards of confidentiality, and
press anonymity until the end of proceedings, and beyond where they
so desire. Be further advised to maintain the strictest
level of confidentiality until the end of proceedings to guard against
problems associated with fraudulent claims.

This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid
double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

At your disposal, we remain.
Very Truly Yours,
Mrs Keith Wiger.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam