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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:

• 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)
  • "million 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)
  • ",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)
  • "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "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 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.
  • +447031823643 (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.
  • charleswilliams_private1@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: =?utf-8?q?Megamillion=20Lottousa?= <megamillionlotto.usa2@yahoo.in>
Reply-To: charleswilliams_private1@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2008 03:04:07 +0530 (IST)
Subject: Re:Congratulations you have win US$1.000.000.00.


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: megamillionlotto.usa2@yahoo.in



- MEGA MILLION INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY ORGANIZATION USA-UK!75 Whyke Lane, Chichester, West Sussex, PO.0019 37PD;London.UK.CONGRATULATIONS!Mega Million USA International Toyota Lottery Organization London Branch Office Address: 75 Whyke Lane, Chichester, West Sussex, PO.0019 37PD;London.UK Congratulations from our members of staff. We are United Kingdom LOTTERY AGENCY, You don't have to purchase a ticket to enter this lottery, your email indicate you as a winner in the lottery programs held by the Mega Million USA Lottery Organization.Following official publication results of the Email electronic on line Sweepstakes organized by the Mega Million USA Lottery Organization, the Slide circular award and in conjunction with the foundation for the promotion of software products, (F.P.S.) held on the 1st of November 2008, in New York United state of America.All 15 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( us$1,000,000.00 USD).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 representative office in London United Kingdom, as indicated in your play coupon and your prize of One Million DOLLARS( $1,000,000.00 USD). will be released to you from this regional branch office in London United Kingdom.Your fund is now deposited with our Bank/Security Company in London 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.Ticketnumber........7805-12233077-09,Serial number.......67100-1,Lucky number...177-030-111-09,Ref number......N.EGS/3662367005/15,To begin your lottery claims, Please contact our London Lottery coordinator as follows,Name:Mr.Charles Williams..Email:charleswilliams_private1@hotmail.com,Tel:+44-7031823643,You are to send the completed verification form below to the co-coordinator 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: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 15th of December 2008. Any claim not made by this date !
will be returned to United state 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 MEGA MILLION! LOTTO ORGANIZATION! MRS. TINA AKIRA.PRESIDENT MEGA MILLION! LOTTO ORGANIZATION!

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam