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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• 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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • ",500,000" (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)
• 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.
  • +447045763718 (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.
  • pepsi.claimsoffice@gmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Fri, 07 Nov 2008 14:25:43 -0800
Subject: (No subject header)

THE PEPSI COMPANY
PROMOTION/PRIZE AWARD DEPT
151 CANADA SQUARE,CANARY WHARF,
LONDON, E14 5DY, UNITED KINGDOM.

THE PEPSI COMPANY OFFICIAL PRIZE NOTIFICATION.

You have been Selected as one of the in the last PEPSI
CONSUMER AWARD for the year 2008, tagged PEPSI SPECIAL
CHRISTMAS BONANZA.

I am also glad to inform you that the OFFICIALS of PROMO
BOARD are pleased to inform you that you have been approved
for a payment of 1,500,000.00Pounds Sterling (One Million,
Five Hundred Thousand Pounds Sterling) in cash credited.

Your reference number for verification is; BTN:41632006/20
and your ticket number is 7XBYZ2006.Please be advised that
upon your receipt of this formal notification,do fill the
verification form below, and return to the CLAIMS

PROCESSING DEPARTMENT, for final verification and further
instructions on how to claim your prize. To get intouch with
the CLAIMS PROCESSING DEPARTMENT, follow the instructionS
below:

You will be required to fill the form below correctly, and
send the details to the CLAIMS PROCESSING DEPARTMENT. Please
find the contact details below:

CLAIMS PROCESSING OFFICER: Mr. Vanden McAlister
EMAIL: pepsi.claimsoffice@gmail.com
TEL: +44 704 576 3718

You are also advised to provide him with the under listed
information as soon as possible:

NAME IN FULL:
CONTACT ADDRESS:
AGE:
PHONE:
MOBILE:
SEX (M/F):
HOW OFTEN DO YOU DRINK PEPSI:
REMARKS ABOUT PEPSI:

CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!

We are glad to have you as one of our lucky winners.

Yours Sincerely,
Online Co-ordinator
THE PEPSI COMPANY

=================================================================================================
Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including
anyattachments, is for the sole use of the intended
recipient(s) and may contain confidential and priviledged
information. This e-mail is
covered by the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18
U.S.C. 2510-2521 and is legally privileged. Any
unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distributionn is
prohibited. All emails are monitored by one or more
Government Agencies for their content.
=================================================================================================

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam