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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "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)
• 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.
  • applelotteryclaimsdept@winning.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Apple Lottery" <notification_applelottery01@msn.com>
Reply-To: applelotteryclaimsdept@winning.com
Date: Fri, 17 Feb 2006 04:41:45 +0000
Subject: >>WINNING APPROVAL<<

 

APPLE LOTTERY, UK
Design House, Exmoor Avenue,
Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire NL45 8RE,
UK.

================================
TICKET NO: APL91-25-88-76-02
REF NO: A/87-756-863APL
BATCH NO: 2006APL-01
================================

AWARD WINNING APPROVAL

We are pleased to inform you of the announcement today of winners of the APPLE LOTTERY PROGRAMS held on 15th February 2006. Your company or your personal e-mail address is attached to ticket number APL91-25-88-76-02, with batch number 2006APL-01 drew the lucky numbers 02-65-75-39-73-38, and consequently won in the first lottery category.
You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of US 1,000,000.00 DOLLARS in cash credited to file A/87-756-863APL. This is from the total prize money of US 25,000,000.00 DOLLARS, shared among the Twenty five (25) international winners in this category. All participants were selected through our Computer ballot system drawn from 14,000 names 2,000 names from each continent, as part of International Promotions Program.

Your fund has been deposited in an escrow account with our affiliate bank here in United Kingdom (UK), and insured with your A/87-756-863APL and your E-mail address. You are to keep your TICKET NO. REF NO. BATCH NO.  f rom the public, until you have been processed and your prize money remitted to your personal account.
To claim your winning prize, you must first contact the claims department by email for processing and remittance of your prize money to you. Your assigned claims representative contact  is:
------------------------------------------------
Name: Garry Cooke
E-mail: applelotteryclaimsdept@winning.com
------------------------------------------------

Claims Requirements:
====================
1.Full Name --------------------------------------------------------------
2.Address -------------------------------------------------------------------
3.Nationality ---------------------------------------------------------------
4.Age -----------------------------------------------------------------------
5.Occupation ----------------------------------------------------------------
6.Phone/Fax -----------------------------------------------------------------
7.Present Country -----------------------------------------------------------

PAYMENT MODE: OPTIONS
1) BANK TO BANK WIRE TRANSFER.
2) CERTIFIED CHEQUE MADE OUT IN YOUR NAME COURIERED TO YOU VIA OUR AFFILIATE COURIER COMPANY AND WILL BE DELIVERED TO YOUR ADDRESS.
**PLEASE INDICATE OPTION THAT BEST SUITS YOU.

He is to help you in claiming your due prize. In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your ticket, reference, and batch numbers in all correspondences with your claims representative.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Natalie Farr
For APPLE LOTTERY UK;
_______________________________________________

NB: The APPLE LOTTERY holds the right to cancel your winning if you are below the age of 18yrs. Employees and immediate family members of employees of APPLE AGENCY, its associated companies, professional advisers, advertising and promotional agencies are not eligible to be winners of this promotional lottery. Contacts should be made directly to the claims agent department via email on or before fourteen (14) days after receiving your winning notification as this is mandatory.

--

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam