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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:
  • "claim agent" (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)
  • "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)
  • "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• 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.
  • +447031948523 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• 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.
  • bmwawardprizes@representative.com
  • agent.davidharris@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: uk MEGA LOTTERY <themba555elvis@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 29 May 2008 12:58:37 +0200
Subject: Winning Notification(Jackpot Microsoft


MOTTO: FIGHTING POVERTY AROUND THE WORLD THE INTERNATIONAL AWARENESS PROMOTION DEPARTMENT UNITED KINGDOM LOTTERY Close, Stamford , Lincs , PE9 2YP, London,22 Garden United Kingdom. REF.:PEC/9030108308/08. *
Batch: 15/76/EF36. * Serial No: SALP97585. *
FILE No: B665 75608567.* Security code: ZA/1836 ELECTRONIC EMAIL AWARD WINNING NOTIFICATION AWARD PRESENTATION CENTER UNITED KINGDOM ATTN: WINNER, Microsoft™ Corporation management worldwide/ BMW™ Company is pleased to inform you that you are a winner of our annual MICROSOFT™ USER AWARD-Lottery conducted in UNITED KINGDOM. Your personal e-mail address or company email was attached to Serial No: SALP97585. Consequently winning in the first lottery category. You have therefore been approved for a total sums of £450,000.00 (Four Hundred And Fifty Thousand British Pounds Sterling) Credited to FILE No: B665 75608567. With REF.:PEC/9030108308/08. This is from total prize money of £27,000,000.00 shared among the Sixty (0) lucky Worldwide winners in first category.
All participants were selected through our Microsoft computer ballot system, drawn from Canada, Asia, Australia, United States, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Oceania .As part of international "MICROSOFT™ USER" promotions program, this is conducted annually. CALL OR CONTACT CLAIM OFFICE THROUGH EMAIL [mailto:bmwawardprizes@representative.com] Claims Manager: Dr.David HARRIS (Claims Department).Tel#:+ 4470 3194-8523.Contact :agent.davidharris@yahoo.co.uk Remember, all prize money must be claimed within 30 days of this notification. All funds not claimed on or before the fixed date will be returned as unclaimed and donated to charity organizations. Congratulations, once more from the entire management and staff of Microsoft ™ Corporation to all our lucky winners this year 2008.
Thank you for being part of this promotional lottery program. [http://www.clovischristian.com/05-06%20Staff%20Pics/Mrs._Burdan.JPG] Sincerely, MRS. BROWN CATHY (SECRETARY) AWARD SPONSORS / BMW™ COMPANY . Please call your claim agent if your mail was not responded to within 24 hours: PLEASE SEND A COPY OF YOUR CONTACT INFORMATIONS TO BOTH EMAILS PROVIDED ABOVE.
1, Full Names:
2, Date of birth:
3, Present Contact Address:
4, Country Of Residence:
5, Tel:
6, Your Winning serial and ref. no.:
7, Winning Email address:
8, Occupation:
9, Sex:
10. Total amount won: £450,000.00 (GBP) ONLY
11, Mode Of Payment:
(I). Bank Transfer {T/T} (II).Certified Bank Draft
12,Company if any

For Security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information CONFIDENTIAL Microsoft™ takes all reasonable steps to ensure that the information in this email is accurate. However, the company gives no warranty, whether express or implied, regarding the content of this email, nor do we accept liability for any loss or damage which may result from your receipt of this message. Any decision made by an individual based on information in this email is the responsibility of that individual alone. You have to note that the only person that have the right to represent you in your claim is your appointed Agent only.
/ Copyright © 1998-2008 The MICROSOFT™ Inc. [http://mail.yahoo.com/config/login?/_javascript:ol('http://mail.yahoo.com/config/login?/__javascript:olhttp://mail.yahoo.com/config/login?/___javascript:olhttp://www.southall.co.uk/default.asp;;');]
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam