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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
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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:

• 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.
  • paymentofficer_ryan@mail2world.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Willard, Bobby" <bobbywillard@kings.edu>
Date: Thu, 3 Jul 2008 16:55:38 -0400
Subject: Ref:UK/9420X2/68; Batch:074/05/ZY369...Contact Mr. Ryan Bond

RE: BONUS LOTTERY PROMOTION PRIZE AWARDS WINNING NOTIFICATION 2008:

Dear Lucky Winner,

This is to inform you that your Email emerged a winner of
£650,000.00 on our online draws which was played on the
3rd of July 2008 your winning numbers are;

Ref. Number...... .UK/9420X2/68
Batch Number...... 074/05/ZY369
Ticket Number..... 564 75600545-188
Company Number...02949433

For further Information about your Winnings contact Our
agent for notice of claims, copyright or other intellectual
property infringement can be reached as follows:

Mr. Ryan Bond
Fiduciary / Payment  Agent
Email: paymentofficer_ryan@mail2world.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam