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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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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "national lottery promotion" (no such lottery exists)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "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)
  • "keep it confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "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 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.
  • bcc.lottery@rocketmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • jackmorgan1990@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2008 08:52:27 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: CONGRATULATION


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: bcc.lottery@rocketmail.com



- BCC NEWS MILLIONS INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY PROMOTION PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT. REFERENCE: EML / IPP/1555002244/05 BATCH: ES34/044/ ILP /SL RE: WINNING NOTIFICATION / FINAL NOTICE Dear Lottery Winner, We wish to congratulate you over your email success in our computer balloting held on 16th September 2008.This is a Millennium Scientific Computer Game in which email addresses were used. It is a promotional program aimed at encouraging internet users; therefore you do not need to buy ticket to enter for it. You have been approve for the star prize of 600,000:00 Euros. (Six Hundred Thousand Euros Only). Your =E-mail address attached to Serial Number 22221415366-609 with Lucky Star Numbers 03 44 04, Winning Number 04 05 23 25 28 which =consequently won in the 6th category, you have therefore been approved for a = lump sum pay out of 600,000.00 Euros. (Six Hundred Thousand Euros Only). YOUR ADDRESS HAS WON CONGRATULATIONS!!! DO KEEP IT CONFIDENTIAL. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some participants. All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from over 100,000 company and 50,000,000 individual email =addresses and names from all over the world. This lottery was promoted and =Sponsored by Sultan of Brunei, Bill Gates of Microsoft Inc,Shell Company With the support of European corporate companies and organizations to encourage the use of Internet and computers worldwide. To claim your winning prize you are to contact the appointed claim agent as soon as possible for the immediate release of your winnings with your VERIFICATION FORM information below: MR. JACK MORGAN CONTACT CLAIMS AGENT ON TELEPHONE: 00 233 244 967 529. Email: jackmorgan1990@yahoo.com Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than TWO WEEKS, after this date all unclaimed funds will be included in the next stake. Please note in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications please remember to quote your reference Number and Batch Numbers in all correspondence. Congratulations once more!! ! !! !!!! !!!!!. REMEMBER, YOU HAVE TO CONTACT YOUR CLAIM AGENT WITH YOUR VERIFICATION FORM BELOW TO ENABLE HIM PROCESS YOUR PRIZE MONEY IMMEDIATELY. VERIFICATION FORM 1. FULL NAMES: 2. ADDRESS: 3. SEX: 4. AGE: 5. MARITAL STATUS: 6. OCCUPATION: 7. NATIONALITY: 8. TELEPHONE NUMBER: 9. COUNTRY: 10. SERIAL NUMBER: 11. WINNING NUMBER: 12. REF NUMBER: 13. BATCH NUMBER: 14. AMOUNT WON: 15. CATEGORY: NOTE :THAT NOBODY OR EVEN THE PAYING BANK HAS THE RIGHT TO TOUCH, DEDUCT/CUT OR GET ACCESS TO YOUR PRIZE MONEY FOR ANY REASON THEY HAVE BEEN WARNED STRICTLY!. Sincerely yours, Rev. Mark Wilson Lottery Coordinator.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam