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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "million 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)
  • ",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)
• 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.
  • revjohnbello02@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "AWARD AUSTRALIAN LOTTERY" <ausinfo1@mailbox.hu>
Date: Sat, 31 May 2008 09:12:40 -0700
Subject: CONFIRM YOUR WINNING(in cash credit file ref:ILP/HW 47509/02.)


AUSTRALIA LOTTO LOTTERY INC.
5th Floor East Commonwealth Centre
55 Currie Street Adelaide SA 5000,
South Australia.

WINNING NOTIFICATION

We are delighted to inform you of the result of the E-mail address ballot
lottery draw of the Australian cash-out lotto bv international program,which
took place on the 31st of May 2008. This is a computer generated lottery of
Internet users using email addresses for draws.

This lotto draw is fully based on an electronic selection of winners using
their e-mail addresses from different World Wide Web(www)sites.Your e-mail
address attached to ticket number: 47061725 07056490902 drew the lucky
numbers and bonus ball number which subsequently won you the lottery in the
2nd category.You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of
US$250,000.00 (TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND U.S DOLLARS) in cash credit
file ref:ILP/HW 47509/02.

This is from the total cash prize of US$4,000,000 Million Dollars,shared
amongst the first Ten (10) lucky winners in this category.All participant
were selected randomly through a computer balloting system drawn from 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 annually.This Lottery is being
promoted and sponsored by a conglomerate of Multinational companies as part
of their social responsibility to the citizens in the communities where they
have operational base.

Further more your details(e-mail address) falls within our European
representative office in Amsterdam,Holland, as indicated in your play coupon
and your prize of US$250,000.00 will be released to you from our 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.Our agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the
release of your funds as soon as you contact him.

PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU QUOTE YOUR BELOW WINNING PARTICULARS WHEN
CONTACTING YOUR AGENT:
Ref: 4758961725
Batch: ALLINC 70564943902/188
Winning no: FGNGB2701/LPRC

HOW TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE:
Simply contact your claims agent, Rev. John Bello
email: (revjohnbello02@yahoo.co.uk)
Fill this form below and send it to him to file for
your claim .

LOTTERY WINNERS APPLICATION FORM OF PAYMENT.
FULL NAME.................................................
DATE OF BIRTH.............................................
SEX.......................................................
AGE.......................................................
MARITAL STATUS............................................
NATIONALITY...............................................
OCCUPATION................................................
TELEPHONE.................................................
FAX.......................................................
EMAIL.....................................................
DATE......................................................
WINNER REF/BATCH NO........................APPROVED
FOR PAYMENT.

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(VERY
SECRET) from the public until your claim is processed and your prize money
remitted/released to you.This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid
double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some unscrupulous
elements,equally to guard against non participant or unofficial personnel
taking undue advantage of this program. Note that, all winnings MUST be
claimed by a STIPULATED TIME(ON OR BEFORE 20th June 2008) otherwise all
funds will be returned as Unclaimed and eventually be reabsorbed into our
next lucky dip sweepstakes.

Congratulations once again on your winnings!!!

Yours in service
Sincerely,
Mr. Carol Smith
Online coordinator for
AUSTRALIAN LOTTO INC

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam