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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "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!

Fraud email example:

From: "Free Lotto Inc" <freelotto2006@zonai.com>
Reply-To: michaelanderson2006@zonai.com
Date: Mon, 5 Jun 2006 17:12:19 +0100
Subject: Notification(Read & Respond)

UK HEAD OFFICE:
Unit 7, Parkway Trading Est.,
Cranford La, Hounslow,
TW5 9QA

IRELAND BRANCH
Dublin 7
Dublin - Ireland

REF NUMBER: 014/060/532
BATCH NUMBER: 762901-PCD03

Sir/Madam,

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Lottery Winners International programs held on the 29th of May, 2006 all games promotion. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number 27522465896-6453 with serial number 3772-554 drew lucky numbers 7-14-18-23-31-45, which consequently won in the 2nd category, you have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of 2,500,000 (EUROS) (TWO MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND EUROS)

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

For security purpose and clarity, we advise that you keep your winning information confidential until your claims have been processed and your money remitted to you. This is part of our security protocol 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 companies and 30,000,000 individual email addresses and names from all over the world. This promotional program takes place every year.

This lottery was promoted and sponsored by eminent personalities like the Sultan of Brunei. We look forward to your active participation in our next year USD50 million slot.To process your claim, please fill the form below and contact our Clearance Office via the email address below:

Clearance Officer: Michael Anderson
Email Address: michaelanderson2006@zonai.com

Your fund can be released via either of the following options and you are required to choose the mode in which you want your Prize Claim released to you.
1. International Bank Draft
2. Certified Cheque
3. Wired transfer

If you choose option 3, you are required to provide your account details.Note that, all winnings must be claimed not later than one month starting from today, failure to respond to this mail before the time stipulated from today, all unclaimed funds will be null and void.

Please note in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, remember to quote your reference number and batch numbers in all correspondences. Furthermore, should there be any change of address do inform our Clearance Officer as soon as possible.

Congratulations once more and thank you for being part of our promotional program.

NOTE: YOU ARE AUTOMATICALLY DISQUALIFIED IF YOU ARE BELOW 18 YEARS OF AGE.
_____________________________________________________________________

QUESTIONNAIRE

FREE LOTTERY PROMOTION
(Subsidiary Of International & Swiss Lotto)

LOTTERY PAYMENT APPLICATION FORM

(To be completed by lottery winners only)
Ticket Number: ........................
Reference Number: ....................
Batch Number: ........................
First Name: .........................
Last Name: ..........................
Home Address: ......................
Town/City: .............................
Post Code: ...........................
Country: ...............................
Telephone (Home): ...........................
Mobile: .....................................
Fax (Private): ...............................
Fax (Office): .................................
Email Address: ...............................
Date of Birth: ..................................
Occupation: ....................................
Marital Status: ..................................

I............................hereby declare that the above information are true and binding on me. If at any time it is discovered that I have given false information, I will forfeit my rights to my winnings.

Sincerely yours,

Gilbert Henry.
(Lottery Co-ordinator)

IMPORTANT NOTICE.

Please be informed that NON RESIDENTS of the United Kingdom will be required to procure an Affidavits of Lotto Claim/Court clearance Certificate from the Court in the United Kingdom prior to award payment policy of Organisers/European Gaming Board as required by the Clearance Office.

Please be aware that your Prize Claim will be effected swiftly upon satisfactory reports, verifications and validation provided by the Clearance Officer.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam