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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:

• 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:
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• 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.
  • richardadebayo721@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "richard adebayo" <richardadebayo722@gmail.com>
Reply-To: richardadebayo721@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2008 01:22:13 -0700
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS YOU HAVE WON.


*SHELL LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL.
UN-CLAIMED DEPARTMENT.
CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER.
WORLD LOTTERY.
Ref: SHL/9420X2/68
Batch: 074/05/ZY369.
DATE: 18TH OF AUGUST, 2008.*

* *

* *

*AWARD NOTIFICATION FINAL NOTICE.*

*ATTENTION: LUCKY WINNERS*

*I AM Peter babs, the prize director representing the Shell International
Lottery Corporation's Un-Claimed Department. On June 4th, 2008 at
approximately
3:45pm, I tried contacting you, but unfortunately was unable to get a hold
of
you. The main reason for electronically mailing you this letter is to inform
you
of the reason for my call. Every year we receive over 5,000 entry forms from

different lottery players from around the world. Precisely speaking, I was
just
looking at our network to find out that you were selected as a prize winner
on
May 24th, 2008 and you havn't claimed your winnings, for the sum of US US$1
Million.Usually when a winner doesn't claim their money there should be a
note
that says why the winner has not claimed their money, and the client file
will
be closed. So I am mailing in regards to know why you have not made any
effort
to claim your money. You have US$1 Million sitting here, waiting for you. I

dont know why somebody will wait that long to claim their money?? To
elaborate
more, this draw was held in Australia, where our head office is located.
Moreover, if we did not hear from you within 3 weeks from the day this
letter
was sent, your file will close and you will no longer be able to claim your
winnings. Our main payment office is located in West Africa. This is where
you
will be receiving your amount of winnings US$1 Million from. Nevertheless,
according to the federal and international law concerning the personal
collection of prize winnings, note that every we have already process your
winnings and have update the courier service that any moment from now your
winnings would be delivered to you by their telegraphic delivery machine. *

*For more information concerning your winnings, please contact your Payment
Officer Mr.Richard Adebayo using:
**richardadebayo721@yahoo.com*<richardadebayo721@yahoo.com>


*When is a better time to get a hold of you. Due to security precautions, we

advise that you keep your winning information confidential until your claim
has
been processed and you have received your certified bank cheque of US$1
Million
paid out to you. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double
claiming
and unwarranted abuse of this program by some participants.*

*NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please
remember to
quote your reference and Lot numbers in every correspondence with your
agent.
Furthermore, should there be any change of your address, do inform your
claim
agent as soon as possible. Congratulations once again from all members of
our
staff and thank you for being a part of our promotional program.*


*Congratulations from me and members of staff of THE INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY.*

*Yours faithfully,
Mr Peter Babs
Online coordinator for THE INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY
Sweepstakes International Program.*

* *

* *

* *

*Confidentiality Notice:*

*Please note that this email, and any files that may be attached to
it,is/are
confidential and is/are intended for the sole use of the individual(s) or
entity(ies) to which it/they is/are addressed. Any use,distribution,copying
or
disclosure by any other person or entity is strictly prohibited under
applicable
law(s). If you received this email in error,please notify the sender by
return
email and delete the original message (making sure it is also deleted from
the
Deleted Items folder of your mail client).*

*Opinions, conclusions and other information in this message that do not
relate
to official business of INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY and insurance shall be
understood
to be neither given nor endorsed by INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY finance and
insurance
when addressed to comet finance and insurance clients; and any information
contained in this email is subject to the terms and conditions of the
governing
client's contract(s).*

* *

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam