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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.

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:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "claims office" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
• 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.
  • +447031897503 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Guinness Promotion" <guinnesspromo02@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2008 15:43:51 +0200
Subject: Letter of Congratulations!!!.....


Guinness(R) & Co
Park Royal
London, NW10 7RR
United Kingdom.
http://www.guinness.com.

Letter of Congratulations!!!

Attn: Sir/Madam,

The GUINNESS(R) brand is a global phenomenon; One man. 246 years. 150
countries. The history of GUINNESS(R) beer is a compelling story of invention,
passion and belief. Crafted since 1759, GUINNESS(R) has a rich history:
friendly, enterprising and well-travelled under the visionary founder,
Arthur Guinness.

Guinness has officially completed the X Fest Bonanza held on the 22nd of
November 2008. The winning ticket was selected from a Data Base of Internet
Email Users, from which your Address came out as the winning coupon.

Guinness Winning Number: 47-23-16-28-22
Reference Number: GUI/UK2008/1759DUB09
Batch Number: 2008/08GUI/AGJ
Amount: £1.6million (One Million, Six Hundred Thousand British Pounds
Sterling).

To begin the claims processing of your prize winnings you are advised to
contact our licensed and accredited claims agent below with the winning
details above;

Lottery Claims Officer:
Name: William Harry
Email: webmaster@guinnessclaim.com
Tel: +447031897503
Fax: +448704900329.

Congratulations once again from all our staffs on your prize winning, we
hope you will partake in our forth coming Mega Jackpot.

Yours Sincerely,

Mrs. Martha De Peralta
(Lottery Coordinator).

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam