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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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "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 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.
  • paymentcentre5050@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • paymentcentre1010@yahoo.es (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "AUSTRALIA LOTTERY INC" <australianlottocentreo@mailbox.hu>
Reply-To: paymentcentre5050@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 27 May 2008 09:44:11 +0100
Subject: CONGRATULATION!!! YOU HAVE WON US$400,000.00 2008 AUSTRALIAN LOTTO


*FROM DESK OF THE VICE PRESIDENT INTERNATIONAL
PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARDS DEPARTMENT AUSTRALIAN
INTERNATIONAL SWEEPSTAKES LOTTERY CORPORATION;*


*DATE:27/5/2008
REF NUMBER:575061725
BATCH NUMBER:8056490902/188
WINNING NUMBER:KB8701/LPRC*


*CONGRATULATION!CONGRATULATION!! CONGRATULATION!!!
Dear Sir/Madam,*


*We are delighted to inform you of your prize release on the 27TH of MAY
2008 from the AUSTRALIA INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY PROGRAM ,Which is fully based
on an electronic selection of winners using their e-mail addresses,Your name
was attached to ticket number; number;575061725-8056490902 serial number
6741137002.This batch draws the lucky numbers as follows 4-13-33-37-42bonus
number 17,which consequently won the lottery in the second category. you
have been approved a lump sum pay of US$US$400,000.00 (FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND
DOLLARSS) in cash credit file ref: ILP/HW 47509/02 from the total cash prize
shared amongst eight lucky winners in 2nd category.*


*All participant were selected through computer balloting system drawn form
Nine hundred thousand E-mail addresses from Canada,Australia,United States,
Asia,Europe,Middle East,Africa and Oceania as part of our international
promotions program which is conducted annual .This Lottery was promoted and
sponsored by a conglomerate of some international companies as part of their
social responsibility to the citizens in the communities where they have
operational base.*


*Furthermore your detail (e-mail address) falls within our Nigeria
representative office in Africa as indicated in your play coupon and your
prize of US$400,000.00 will be released to you from this regional branch
office in NIGERIA.We hope with part of your prize,you will participate in
our end of year high stakes for US$1.3 Billion international draw.*


*PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL.CONTACT YOUR CLAIMS AGENT
DR. MATHEW RALPHEL*

*E-mail: paymentcentre5050@yahoo.com*


*To file for your claim.Please quote your reference, batch and winning
number which can be found on the top left corner of this notification as
well as your full name,address and telephone number to help locate your file
easily. For security reasons, we advice all winners to keep this information
confidential from the public until your claim is processed and your prize
released to you.This is part of our security protocol to avoid double
claiming and unwarranted taking advantage of this program by non-participant
or
unofficial personnel.*


*NOTE,all winnings must be claimed before 15TH of JUNE 2008 otherwise all
funds will be returned as Unclaimed and eventually donated to charity
organization.*


*Congratulations once again on your winnings!!!
Best Regards
REV.HARRY HANK
(co-ordinator)*


*PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL.CONTACT YOUR CLAIMS AGENT
DR. MATHEW RALPHEL
E-mail: **paymentcentre5050@yahoo.com*
<paymentcentre5050@yahoo.com><http://us.mc552.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=paymentcentre1010@yahoo.es>


*YOU MUST CONTACT YOUR CLAIMS AGENT WITH THE E-MAIL ADDRESSES THAT HAVE BEEN
INDICATED FOR CLARIFICATIONS*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam