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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• 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)
  • ",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.
  • +447045782319 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: Lowell Eric Farnsworth <lefarnsworth@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 19 Jul 2008 11:46:28 -0500
Subject: scam



Winning Notification For UK Lottery 2008 ///
From: Petty, Lori (lori.petty@ttu.edu)
You may not know this sender. Mark as safe | Mark as unsafe

Sent:
Sat 7/19/08 10:47 AM

To:



Dear Lucky Winner, We are pleased to notify you of the draw (1152) of the UK NATIONALLOTTERY, Online Sweepstakes International Lottery Program held on 25thSat, 09 April 2008 . Participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn froma pool of over 25,000,000 Emails of distinguished professionals drawnfrom Europe, America, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Middle-East, partsof Africa, and North & South America as part of our internationalpromotions programme conducted annually to encourage prospectiveoverseasentries. The result of our computer draw (1152) selected your email addressattached to e-ticket number: 56475600545 188 with Serial number 5368/02drew the lucky numbers: 15. 25. 29. 35. 39. 40 (Bonus no.11), whichsubsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category i.e. match 5 plusbonus.You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of £2,500,000.00(Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Pounds Sterling) in cash creditedto file BNKJ/1740161514/03.Your prize award has been insured in your name and is ready for claims. United Kingdom Lottery FiduciaryContact Person: Robert KingsEmail:robert_1152_kings@live.com <http://uk.mc278.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=robert_1152_kings@live.com> Tel: +44-704-578-2319Tel: +44-704-572-3270Fax: +44-709-288-6194 In line with the governing rules of claim, you are requested to furnishYour Claim Agent With the following information: 1. Full name...........2. Address............3. Occupation............4. Tel/Fax............5. Country............Do understand that, this is done to ensure that, we are dealing withthe rightful Winner in this 2nd category to avoid double claiming bynonwinners.CONGRATULATIONS!!!John W. Smith.Note: All further correspondence should be forwarded to your claimsofficer via this email address:robert_1152_kings@live.com <http://uk.mc278.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=robert_1152_kings@live.com>

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam