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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.

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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:
  • "claims 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)
  • "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)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
• 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.
  • +447034037768 (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.
  • claims_agent_onfund@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: =?utf-8?q?Owen=20Williams?= <owen_williamsmaneger@yahoo.in>
Reply-To: owenwilliamsmaneger@live.com
Date: Thu, 2 Oct 2008 16:56:33 +0530 (IST)
Subject: British Web Promotions


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: owen_williamsmaneger@yahoo.in



- Ref : UK/776090X2/23 Batch:013/05/8394369 mail:claims_agent_onfund@yahoo.com Dear Winner, We are pleased to inform you today of the result of the winners of the British Web Promotions program LOTTERY ONLINE YEARLY PROMO PROGRAMME, held on October,2008. You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay of £1,000,000.00 GBP (One Million Great British Pounds) in this year category.in cash credited to file IPL/4249859609/WP1. For more information contact your claims agent: Name: Mr Owen Williams CONTACT YOUR CLAIMS AGENT WITH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:1. Full name.............. . Contact Address........3. Age....................4. Telephone Number.......5. Marital Status.........6. Sex....................7. Next Of Kin............8. Zip Code...............9. Occupation.............10. Company................11.State:.................12.Country................13.Nationality............14. Your Reference and Batch number at the top of this mail: BENEFICIARY PAYMENT RELEASE OPTION 1.COURIER DELIVERY 2.BANK TO BANK TRANSFER ( online transfer ) 3.CASH PICKUP IN UNITED KINGDOM Yours Truly, Mr Owen Williams British Web Promotions Email: claims_agent_onfund@yahoo.com Phone:+44-703-403-7768.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam