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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
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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:
  • "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!

Fraud email example:

From: CLAIMS AGENT <claimsagentdepartment1@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 27 Jun 2006 09:58:25 +0100 (BST)
Subject: VERIFICATION AND FUND RELEASE FORM (FILL AND RETURN BACK)


VERIFICATION AND FUND RELEASE FORM

1.FULL NAMES:__________________________________
2.ADDRESS:_____________________________________________
____________________________________________
3.SEX:_______________
4.AGE:________
5.MARITAL STATUS:___________________
6.OCCUPATION:________________________
7.E-MAIL ADDRESS:_____________________________
8.TELEPHONE NUMBER:_____________________
9.BATCH NUMBER:____________________ B. REF NUMBER:______________
10.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF COMPANY/INDIVIDUAL___________

11.AMOUNT WON:___________________________________
12. COUNTRY________________________________

13. COMPANY NAME(IFAPPLICABLE):

15. PAYMENT OPTIONS: (CHOOSE AND TICK ONE OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS BELOW:

(1) CHEQUE (Delivery Of Your Winning Cheque To You At Home Within 24hours By A Courier Service) :

(2) PHYSICAL COLLECTION (Coming to Uk to Get You Winning Prize In Person):

(3) WIRE TRANSFER

ONLY WHEN YOU ARE USING OPTION (1)

POSTAL/MAILING ADDRESS: (WHERE THE CHEQUE AND PRIZE WINNING CERTIFICATE WILL BE COURIERED TO): ____________________________________________
NAME OF RECEIVER: __________________________________________________

DECLARATION:
I, ____________, HEREBY DECLARE THAT I HAVE NEVER RECIEVED ANY SETTLEMENT FROM THE NATIONAL LOTTERY PROGRAM NOR ANY MEMBER OF MY FAMILY FILLEDCLAIM ON MY BEHALF TO FREE
LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION. I THEREFORE AUTHORIZE, THE NATIONAL LOTTERY PROGRAM TO ACT ON MY BEHALF IN THE PROCESSING AND SEND MY PRIZE AS INSTRUCTED BY ME. SIGNATURE :______________(TYPE IN YOUR NAMES): ________________________________DATE: ________________________
Congratulations from me and members of staff of THE UK NATIONAL LOTTERY.

Warm Regards,
Rev. Williams Brown
Claims Agent.


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam