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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "fiduciary 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 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.
  • +447040111770 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: MR BRIANT SMITH <irishlotteryinc@yahoo.ie>
Date: Sat, 30 Sep 2006 15:21:46 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Fill The Claim Verification Form


IRISH LOTTERY,
ONLINE SWEEPSTAKES.
Ref:LSUK/2031/8161/06
Batch: R3/A312-59
LSUK/2031/8161/05R3/A312-59
Tel: +44 704 0111770.

Dear Winner,
I am BRIANT SMITH, your claims Fiduciary Agent who is to guide you through the process of claiming your cash prize. Congratulations once again from all the staff here. For the avoidance of doubt, your email address was gotten from one of the websites that you visited and it emerged as one of the lucky winner emails. So in order to verify your winnings, we need your winning and personal data for record and verifications purposes. Below is a verifications/data form; please fill accordingly so as to proceed with your winnings.


Please attach a recent passport photograph (though optional but advisable, for easy identification at payment point).

Due to complaints coming from our previous winners, stating thier inability to print and fill our clearance form we have developed a new strategy and all you have to do is follow the instructions below.


1. Copy and paste the application form into the compose page of your email.
2. Proceed to answer each of the questions asked on the form.

Once you have finished filling the verification form and answered all the questions therein, have it send back to me, to enable me file the claims immediately.

Below, I have added a copy of the verification form after the dotted lines.
Please note that if at any time any alteration is found on the verification form, it renders your claims void.

=========================================================

IRISH INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY CLAIM/PAYMENT VERIFICATION FORM


Full Name: [input]

Residential Address: [input]

Telephone/Fax: [input]

Date of Birth: [input]

Present Country: [input]

Occupation: [input]

Sex: [input]

Social Security Number (Optional): [input]

Annual Income: [input]

Marital Status: [input]

Ticket Number: [input]

Batch Number: [input]

=========================================================

Upon receipt of the duly requested data, you will receive the contact
information of the payment office/bank where your cash cheque has been deposited for clearance and to effect the release of your cash prize
in anyway you deem fit. You can call your Lottery Claim Fiduciary Agent to verify your claim at: +44 704 0111770


Have a nice day.

Yours Faithfully,
Mr. BRIANT SWITH
Fiduciary Agent, IRISH INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY INC.
Sweepstakes Programme.
Tel: +44 704 0111770

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam