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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:
  • "million united state dollars" (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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "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.
  • mrcollins_g20@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: =?utf-8?q?Mrcollins=20Office?= <mrcollinsoffice@yahoo.com.co>
Reply-To: mrcollins_g20@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Fri, 19 Sep 2008 06:32:33 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: THAI INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY ORGANIZATION! CONGRATULATIONS!


¡Tengo nueva dirección de correo!Ahora puedes escribirme a:mrcollinsoffice@yahoo.com.co



- THAI INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY ORGANIZATION! CONGRATULATIONS! Thailand International Lottery Organization Bangkok Branch Office Address: 3 Rajdamnern Avenue Bangkok 10200 Thailand. Congratulations from our members of staff. We are THAILAND LOTTERY AGENCY, You don't have to purchase a ticket to enter this lottery, your email indicating you as a winner in the lottery programs held by the Thai Lottery Organization. Following official publication results of the Email electronic on line Sweepstakes organized by the Thai lottery corporation, the Slide circular award and in conjunction with the foundation for the promotion of software products, (F.P.S.) held on 1st August 2008, in Bangkok Thailand.All 20 winning email addresses were randomly selected from a batch of 25,000,00 international emails each from Canada, Australia, United States Scotland Romania, Asia, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Oceania as part of our international promotions program which is conducted annually, consequently, you have been approved for a total pay out of ONE MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLARS( $1.000, 000.00 USD). will be released to you from this regional branch office in bangkok Thailand. This Lottery was promoted and sponsored by a conglomerate of some multinational companies as part of their social responsibility to the citizens in the communities where they have operational base. Further more your details(e-mail address) falls within our Bangkok representative office in Bangkok Thailand, as indicated in your play coupon and your prize of ONE MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLARS( $1.000, 000.00 USD). will be released to you from this regional branch office in bangkok Thailand.Your fund is now deposited with our Bank/Security Company Bangkok Thailand and insured in your name. Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep this award from public notice until your claim has been processed, and your winning Cheque have being sent to you or remitted to your account, as this is part of our security protocol, to avoid double claiming and unwarranted taking of advantage of this program by participants, as has happened in the past. HOW TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE These are your confidential identification numbers. Ticket number.....................7805-12233077-09 Serial number.......................67100-1Lucky number...................177-030-111-09 Ref number...................N.EGS/3662367005/15 To begin your lottery claims, Please call to contact our Thai Lottery Co-ordinator as follows Mr.Collins Gorge. Name:MR. COLLINS GORGE. Email: mrcollins_g20@yahoo.com.hk Tel: +(66)875022479 You are to send the completed verification form below to the co-ordinator whose email address is given above so that you will be advised on what to do to get your prize money. Congratulations once more! 1. Full name: 2. Address / contact number: 2. Private Telephone: 3. Occupation: 4. Age: 5. Sex: 6. Nationality: 7. Email: Country of Origin: Country of Residence/work: Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later than 30th of September 2008. Any claim not made by this date will be returned to HIS MAJESTYS DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY. CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Once again from all members of our staff and thank you for being a part of our International Promotions program.We wish you continued good fortunes. DR. RAYMOND HISASHI. VICE PRESIDENT THAI! LOTTO ORG! MRS. TINA AKIRA. PRESIDENT THAI! LOTTO ORG!

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam