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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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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "australian lottery" (can only win this lottery if you bought a ticket)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "hundred thousand us dollars" (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)
  • "deadline" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
• 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.
  • +442070601158
• 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.
  • dwdavidwalkerb1@googlemail.com
  • 3adwdavidwalkerb1@googlemail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "mailbox03 Gazeta.pl" <mailbox03@gazeta.pl>
Date: Fri, 23 May 2008 05:04:19 -0700
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!!!


25 Old Broad St
London EC2 1HQ England.
Tel: +44 207 060 1158
Fax: +44 207 900 2558
E-Mail:dwdavidwalkerb1@googlemail.com<E-Mail%3Adwdavidwalkerb1@googlemail.com>
www.australianlotto.com

Batch No: 57214/6723/1AL
Ref No: AGB/9800/1479701/06

Dear,

We are pleased to announce the result of AUSTRALIAN LOTTERY PROGRAM held on
the 20th of OCT 2007 Among the 129 participating finalist playing 6000 full
ticket in the fifth series, from a pool of US$181.600.000.00 (One Hundred
and Eighty One Million Six Hundred Thousand US Dollars) in cash, your name
attached to ticket number 525—11464992—750 with Serial number 760112-05 drew
the lucky numbers 09-14-23-24-31-41, which consequently won the lottery
prize in that category. You have therefore been approved for a lump sum
payout of US$1. 200.000.00 (ONE MILLION TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND US DOLLARS) in
cash credited to file REF NO: AGB/9800/1479701/06.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

The validity of this prize winning is six (6) months after the draw date,
however an insurance company in England reserve the right to place a bond on
grand prize and second prize winners of $1.000.00 on each $100.000.00 won,
on all outstanding unclaimed prizes, in order to give winners a second
chance to make a claim.

Our credit department has recently notified me that over the past three
months there has being no winner form submitted due to the failed efforts to
communicate with you or the Agent taking care of your ticket. Your fund is
now deposited with a security company insured to your name, and they are
responsible for handling and remittance of won prize until the funds are
accurately disbursed. Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that
you keep this award very confidential until your claim has been processed
and your price winning check delivered right to your door as this is part of
our security protocol to avoid double claiming or taking advantage of this
program by participants.

All participants in this lottery were selected through a computer ballot
system drawn from 25,000 names from Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe,
America Including the West Indies as part of our international promotion
program, which we conduct three times every year. We hope that with part of
your prize winning, you will take part in our end of year HIGHSTAKE US$150
Million International lottery.

For Processing and Remittance of your price-winning fund please call your
Agent, MR. DAVID B. WALKER (Foreign Operations Manager) PACIFIC FINANCE AND
SECURITY UK on Tel: +44 207 060 1158 Our licensed European Agency Dealing
with your Claim.
The deadline for this notice is the 7th of MAY 2008. Non-compliance within
this time period may result in disqualification and insured prize will be
returned to AUSTRALIAN LOTTERY as unclaimed Fund.

NOTE: In order to avoid delay and complications, please remember to quote
your reference numbers in every correspondence with your agent.

Furthermore, should there be any change of your address, do inform your
claims agent as soon as possible.

Congratulations once again from all members of our staff and thank you for
taking part in our international promotion program. "You are strongly
advised to keep this winning strictly confidential until your claim has been
confirmed and your prize winning Delivered to you"

Yours Sincerely,
Mrs. Juliet Winter.
VICE PRESIDENT.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam