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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!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "claims office" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • ",500,000" (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.
  • +447039400384 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Smith, Paula" <SmithP@friscoisd.org>
Date: Fri, 13 Jun 2008 04:53:41 -0500
Subject: RE: [Awaiting your response c082509]






*****************************************
HERITAGE LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL
HEADQUARTERS UNITED KINGDOM.
******************************************
Dear Lucky Winner,

We happily announce to you the draw of the HERITAGE MEGA JACKPOT LOTTERY WINNINGS PROGRAMS held on the 6th of
May 2008 in London.

Your e-mail address attached to Reference number: RHLP/2006-26954564- 5600-188 with Serial number 76091/02 drew the
lucky numbers: 19-6-26-13-2-7, which subsequently won you the lottery prize in the 3rd category. You have therefore
been approved to claim a total sum of GBP? 5,500,000.00 POUNDS (Five million five hundred thousand Great Britain pounds)
in cash credited to file W2045/1108309/06.

You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of GBP? 5,500,000.00 POUNDS (Five million five hundred thousand
Great Britain Pounds) in cash credited to file W2045/1108309/06. This is from a total cash prize of 27,500,000.00 POUNDS
shared amongst the first Ten (10) lucky winners in this category B.

CONTACT YOUR FIDUCIARY AGENT FOR VALIDATION:
Name: Brrister Paul Lockett.
Email: paul.lockett@7bellyard.com
Tel:. + 44 703 940 0384

Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later than the 28th of June, 2008. All funds not Claimed on or before the
fixed date will be penalized accordingly. Do email the above email addresses from now on, you are to contact your assigned
claims officer.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

At your disposal,
Yours, Truly
Mrs. Smith Paula.
This message contains information which may be confidential and
privileged. Unless you are the addressee (or authorized to receive for
the addressee) you may not use, copy or disclose to anyone the
message or any information contained in the message. If you have
received this message in error, please advise the sender by reply e-
mail and delete the message. This email may contain the thoughts and
opinions of the employee sending the message and may not represent
the official policy of Frisco Independent Schools.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam