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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:
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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:

• 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:
  • "high insurance policy" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
  • "claims agent" (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.
  • +447031930655 (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.
  • mrtombrwn@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: MRS JOYCE WILLIAMS <joycewilliams@loto.org>
Reply-To: mrtombrwn@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 7 Jul 2009 02:08:44 +0400 (MSD)
Subject: LOTTERY AWARD FINAL NOTIFICATION


MICROSOFT ONLINE PROMOTION INTERNATIONAL
C/ CRYDON 28089, LONDON.
FROM: THE PROMOTIONS DIRECTOR
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS DEPT.

Dear Lucky Winner!!!


LOTTERY AWARD FINAL NOTIFICATION:

You have emerged the 2009 MICROSOFT promotions award winner of our yearly promotions. Your email which drew the winning number, was selected via our E-games Random Selection System (ERSS) we hereby wish to inform you that you’re attached with £450,000.00 GBP in cash are pending your collection.

You have been approved for a payment of £450,000.00 GBP (Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand Great British Pounds) in chequ credited to file reference number: IPL/4249859609/WP1 which is deposited with Finance & Security Company in your favor as beneficiary and covered with HIGH INSURANCE POLICY.

To begin your claim, you are to contact our accredited claims agent with your following information’s:

FULL NAME
HOME ADDRESS
AGE
NATIONALITY
RELIGIONS BELIEF
OCCUPATION
MONTHLY INCOME
TELEPHONE LANDLINE/MOBILE/FAX
GENDER/SEX
WINNING E-MAIL ADDRESS

MR.TOM BROWN.
(Foreign Transfer Manager)
TRUST MANAGEMENT AND FINANCE BV.
MICROSOFT CLAIMING SECURITY AGENCY.
C/ CRYDON 28089, UK
Tel: +44-703-193-0655
Email:mrtombrwn@gmail.com
===============================================

They are your agent, and responsible for the processing and transfer of your winnings to you. YOUR SECURITY FILE NUMBER IS BAN231101NEER (keep personal) Remember, Failure to claim your winning/ fund will be added to next International lottery program.

Furthermore, should there be any change in your address, do inform your claims agent as soon as possible. Once again Congratulations.

Yours Sincerely,
MRS JOYCE WILLIAMS
MICROSOFT CO-ORDINATOR

Copyright 1994-2008 MICROSOFT PROMOTION TEAM
All rights reserved. Terms of Service -77635 476378 255667460

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam