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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:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "claims office" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
• 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.
  • bailey.sweeptake7@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Sarah A Paul" <spaul@cc.edu>
Date: Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:22:51 -0500
Subject: AWARD FINAL NOTIFICATION.

AWARD FINAL NOTIFICATION.
We are pleased to inform you the released results of the EUROMILLION SWEEPSTÁKE LOTTERY PROGRAMS held on the 16TH July 2008.Your EMAIL was attached to a ticket number 102/08 with serial number 000228 lucky numbers 4 5 5 6 4 which consequently won0the lottery in the 2nd category.
You have therefore been approved for lump sum pay out of £10,600,000 Pounds(TEN MILLION SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND POUNDS)in cash credited to file REF Nº: ESWL/2147/08/MAL.This is from total cash prize of £63.600,000(SIXTY THREE MILLION, SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND GBP POUNDS)shared among the SIX international winners in this category. CONGRATULATIONS!
Your fund is now deposited to your name. Due to the mixed up of numbers and names, we ask you to keep this award top secret from public notice until your claim has been processed and your money remitted to your account's this is a part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming, terrorists attack or unwarranted taking advantage of this program by participants e.t.c.
All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 400,000 names from Europe, America, Australia, Asia, and North America as part of our international promotions program, which we conduct once every year. To begin your claims please contact your claims agent:
MR. Craig Bailey
The Foreign Services Manager of EUROMILLION SWEEPSTAKE LOTTERY
Email: bailey.sweeptake7@hotmail.com
Do email the above email a addresses, all at once. In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your reference and winning numbers in all correspondences with your claims officer.
PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU AVE TO SEND THE BELOW INFORMATIONS REQUIRED TO CLAIM YOU'RE WINNING PRIZE:
1. Name in full
2. Address
3. Nationality
4. Age
5. Occupation
6. Sex
7. Phone/Fax
8: DELIVERY OPTIONS Choose from below:
Upon receipt of the duly requested data, I will send you the contact information of the payment office so you can proceed with effecting the release of your claim in anyway you deem fit, submit back immediately.
DELIVERY OPTIONS:
(1): BANK SWIFT WIRE TRANSFER
(2): BY COURIER FIRM.
For processing and remittance of your prize money to a designated account of your choice. Remember that all prize money must be claimed not later than Two weeks after this date, all funds will be returned to the BRITISH GAMING BOARD as unclaimed.
NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your reference, batch and prize claim track numbers in every of your correspondence with us or your agent. Furthermore, should there be any change of your address, do inform your claims agent as soon as possible.
Congratulations again from all members of our staff and thank you for being a part of our promotions program.
Sincerely,
Sarah A Paul
MANAGING DIRECTOR.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam