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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:
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
• 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.
  • +447005942719 (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.
  • claimssoffice@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "lucky day" <luckyday01151@gmail.com>
Reply-To: claimssoffice@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 14 Jul 2008 20:41:45 +0100
Subject: Lucky Winner!!!


From:LuckyDayLottoPromo International
Ref. Number: 132/756/4534
Batch number: 638901527-AMB/02
Dear Sir/ Madam,


We are pleased to inform you of the lottery result winners
International programmes held on 10th/07/2008
Your e-mail address was attached to ticket number 278511465896-6452
with your serial number 3772-554 drew you a lucky number 3-14-18-23-31-45
which consequently won in the first category, you are therefore been
approved for lump sum pay out of 500,000 GBP (Five hundred thousand
british pounds) CONGRATULATIONS ! ! !
Due to mix up of some number and names, you are advised to keep your
winning information confidential until your claims has been processed and
your money remitted to your nominated bank.
This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claims and
unwarranted abuse of this programme by some participants. All participants
were selected through an e-mail balloting. This promotional programme
takes place every three years.
To file for your claim, please contact our fiduciary

Agent:
Mr.John Clarkson.
E-mail: claimssoffice@yahoo.com
Tel: +447005-942-719
Fax: +447005-942-714


Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than 20TH/07/2008.
Please note, in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications,
remember to quote your reference number and batch number in all
correspondence.
Should there be any change of address do inform our agent as soon as
possible.


Once again congratulations .
Best regards,
DR. TOM WHITE.
Lottery Coordinator.
LONDON,UK.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam