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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:

• 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:
  • "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
• 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.
  • freelotto_6666@katamail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "From Murphy Thomas" <freelotto_6666@katamail.com>
Date: Sat, 25 Nov 2006 19:41:10 +0000
Subject:

Dear Lucky Winner,
Internet lottery
The Free Lotto Organisation
UK (United Kingdom)
Reference number A206-35-707
Ticket numbers 390-15-54-35
We are glad to inform you that your E-mail address appears as the confirmed
Winner of our last email lottery program held on the 24th of November 2006.
Your e-mail address attached to Reference number A206-35-707, lucky numbers 390-15-54-35, which consequently won in the 2nd category, you have therefore been approved for a lump sum payment of EUR 3,500.000.00 euros. [Three Million and five hundred thousand euros only]
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
This promotional program takes place every year. All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from over 200,000 companies and 50,000, 000 individual email addresses and names from all over the world.
In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications please remember to quote your reference number and lucky numbers in all correspondence. We ask that you should keep your winning information confidential until your claim has been processed and your money remitted to you. To file for your claim or for further details please contact our agent and forward the required details asked for from the form below via a plain text message:
*************************************************************
Contact Details for claim release process
Name: Murphy Thomas
EMAIL: freelotto_6666@katamail.com
*************************************************************
In respect of our commitment towards helping the less privilege, we ask that you voluntarily contribute 1% of your Global winnings to any charity organization you desire at your convenience.
NOTE: All winning must be claimed not later than 4th Quarter of this fiscal year 2006.
Congratulations once more from our members of staff and thank you for being part of our promotional program.
This email and its attachments are confidential and may contain legally privileged information. You should not disclose the contents to any other person. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender immediately and delete this email from your system.
FREE LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPT.
Please fill and forward the form below via a plain text message in order to have your claim process for release.
FORM
Internet lottery
The Free Lotto Organisation
UK (United Kingdom)
LOTTERY PAYMENT APPLICATION FORM
(To be completed by lottery winners only)
Ticket Number: …………………………………………………………………
Reference Number: …………………………………………………………………
First Name: ……………………………………………………………………………
Last Name: ……………………………………………………………………………
Home Address: ……………………………………………………………………
Country: …………………………………………………………………
Telephone (Home)/ Mobile: ………………………………………………
Fax (Private or 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.
Yours Sincerely,
Mrs. Elizabeth Jenson
(Lottery Coordinator)
IMPORTANT NOTICE.
Please be informed that NON RESIDENTS of Ireland and United Kingdom will be required to procure a Affidavits of Lotto Claim/Court clearance certificate from the Court in Ireland prior to award payment policy of Organisers/European Gaming Board as required by the Clearance office.
Please be aware that your Paying Authority wills Effect Payment Swiftly upon satisfactory Report, Verifications and validation provided by this Clearance Office

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam