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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!
  
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• What can you do when you receive 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:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "million pounds" (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)
  • ",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)
  • "00,000.00" (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 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.
  • +447031888359 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: mtccll02@yahoo.com.cn
Date: Mon, 26 May 2008 10:59:18 -1200
Subject: Aussie Lotto International.

AUSSIE INTERNATIONAL SWEEPSTAKES,
Corporate Headquarters,
91 Station Road,
West Drayton, Middlesex UB7 7LT,
United Kingdom.
*****************************
Ref: AISUK/941OHK/04
Batch: 14/65/0039
*****************************
Lucky Winner,

WINNING NOTIFICATION

We happily announce to you the draw of the Aussie Lottery International program
held in London 2008. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number:
564-75600545-188 with Serial number 5388/02 drew the lucky numbers:
31-6-26-13-35-7, which subsequently won you the lottery prize in
the 2nd category. You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of GBP
1,000,000.00 (One million great Britain pounds) in cash credited to file
C/9080118308/02. This is from a total cash prize of GBP 1,000.000.00( One
Million pounds), shared amongst the first fifteen (15) lucky winners in this
category.

Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our European booklet
representative office in UK as indicated in our play coupon. In view of this,
your 1,000,000.00 (One million great Britain pounds) would be released to you
by our affiliate agent payment center in
London.
Our agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of
your funds to you as soon as you make contact with him. All participants were
selected randomly (Electronically) from the 'World Wide Web' site through a
computer ballot system and extracted from over
100,000 company addresses. This promotion takes place annually.

CLAIMS PROCEDURES:
It is our standard practice to allocate accredited agents for the
processing of claims application. It is even more imperative for oversea
winners. To begin your claims therefore, you are advised as a matter of
urgency, to contact the under listed licensed and accredited claims
agent for the processing of your prize award winning. Please contact the
accredited agent assigned with the verification of all emerged winners.

AGENT: Mr. Harry Smith/Mrs. Cathy George
Email: mtccll02@live.com
Phone: +447031888359


WINNERS CLAIMS VERIFICATION FORM

NAME IN FULL:............................
AGE:.....................................
SEX:.....................................
LOCATION:................................
MOBILE PHONE NUMBER:.....................
HOME CONTACT NUMBER:.....................
CURRENT OCCUPATION:......................
LUCKY NUMBER:............................
TICKET NUMBER:...........................
AMOUNT WON:..............................

Yours Faithfully,
Mr. Tony heltor.
AFRO-ASIAN Zonal Coordinator.
Aussie Lotto International.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam