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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:
  • "fudiciary" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "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.
  • +447045747810 (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.
  • contactbrianwallace@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Sherry, Valerie" <Valerie_Sherry@brown.edu>
Date: Fri, 22 Aug 2008 10:49:53 -0400
Subject: INFORMATION FROM SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS REPLY TO contactbrianwallace@gmail.com

FROM:SAMSUNG DE LOTTERIA
OFFICIAL SPONSOR:SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS(UK)
C/ CRYDON 28089,LONDON.
FROM: THE PROMOTIONS DIRECTOR
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS DEPT.
Ref: EGS/2251256003/02
Batch: 14/0017/1PD
Dear Lottery Winner!!!

INFORMATION FROM SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS

We happily announce to you the draw (#644) of the THUNDERBALL WINNING
under the SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS,online thunderball International program
held on 21th of August 2008.

Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: 475600545 188 with
Serial number 5368/02 drew the lucky numbers 02, 05 , 07, 20, 31, 10
which subsequently won you the lottery of the Jackpot Prize.You have
therefore been approved to claim a total sum of £,600,000.00 ( Six
hundred thousand pounds sterling) in cash credited to file
KTU/9023118308/03.

Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our European
booklet representative office in Europe as indicated in your play
coupon.

In view of this, your £ ,600,000.00 would be released to you by any of
our payment offices in Europe.

To file for your claim, please contact our fudiciary agent:

Dr Brian Wallace.

Email:contactbrianwallace@gmail.com

Tel::+44 70457 47810
+44 70457 53744
+44 70457 53502

Provide him with the information below:

1.Full Names...............
2.Residential Address............
3.Phone Number............
4.Fax Number...............
5.Occupation................
6.Sex........... ..............
7.Age...........................
8.Nationality................

Goodluck from me and members of staff of the SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS.

Yours Sincerely,
Mrs. Litza Martinez,
Executive (International Sweepstakes)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam