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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:
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "claims office" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "part of our security protocols" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • ",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)
• 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.
  • finance.manager226@gmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: UK BF <ukbf1@msn.com>
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:19:09 +0000
Subject: FINANCE OFFICE




FROM THE EMAIL LOTTERY PROMOTION AWARD COMITEE
NATIONAL LOTTERY OF BURKINA FASO
AFFILIATE OF NATIONAL LOTTERY UNITED KINGDOM
AVENUE CHRLES DE GUILE
OUAGADOUGOU BURKINA FASO

MOTTO : CELEBRATING THE DIFFERENCE YOU'VE MADE

£1,000,000.00 EMAIL SELECTION AWARD WINNING PRIZE 2009
!!!!!CONGRATULATION!!!!

Dear Lucky Winner,
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the E-MAILS LOTTERY RAFFLE DRAW an International program held on the 20th of April, 2009.Your e-mail address was attached to the following informations

(1) TICKET NUMBER: 6425-99
(2) SERIAL NUMBER: BATCH/410-3400
(3) BENEFICIARYS REFFRENCE NO BF25694UK
(4) LUCKY DRAW NUMBER: 4014-256985744-456

which consequently won in the 2nd category, you have therefore been approved for a lump sum payment of £1,000,000.00 (One Million GBP).

NOTE: Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep your winning information confidential until your claim has been processed and your money remitted to you. This is part of our security protocols 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 20,000 company and 30,000,000 individual email addresses from all over the world.

This promotional program takes place every year. This lottery was promoted and sponsored by International software organization committee, we hope with part of your winning you will take part in our next coming (2 million GBP) international lottery.
To file for your claim, Please contact the claiming Agent stated below to receive your winning Money immediately:

NAME: DR. MOFULY SMITH.
EMAIL; finance.manager226@gmail.com

CONGRATULATIONS: Contact your claim agent for due processing and remittance of your prize money to a designated account of your choice.

NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your reference numbers in every one of your Correspondences with your officers. Furthermore,should there be any change of your address, do inform your claims officer as soon as possible. Congratulations again from all our staff and thank you for being part of our Promotions program.

Best Wishes.
The Management,
Lottery Organisation.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam