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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
  • "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 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.
  • +447011151157 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• 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.
  • hlfclaims_office06@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Heritage Funds Promotions" <hlftinaforrester@uku.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 08 Dec 2006 03:04:00 +0800
Subject: REF NO: MELI-T/17-F044262312

Heritage Lottery Funds
406 BURY NEW ROAD,WHITEFIELD,MANCHESTER M45 7SX, UNITED KINGDOM.

FROM: THE DESK OF THE DIRECTOR PROMOTIONS,
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT,
REF NO: MELI-T/17-F044262312

Dear Prize Winner,

We are pleased to announce to you as one of the 6 lucky winners in the HERTAGE LOTTERY FUNDS held on 4th of December 2006. All 6 winning addresses were randomly selected from a batch of 40,000 international emails. Your email address emerged alongside 5 others as a 3rd category winner in this month's draw. Consequently, you have therefore been approved for total pay out of £1Million pounds (One million Pounds) only. The following particulars are attached to your lottery payment order:

(i)Winning numbers: 990-11-815-37-10-83
(ii) Email ticket number: 901-0148-790-691
(iii) Lotto Batch No. 13/FFP/LDL/037
(IV) File REF NO: MELI-T/17-F044262312

CLAIMS PROCEDURES:
It is our standard practice to allocate accredited agents for the processing of claims application. It is even more imperative for overseas winners. To begin your claims therefore, you are advised as a matter of urgency, to contact the under listed licensed and accredited claims agent for the processing of your prize awards winning.

CLAIMS CONTACT AGENT:
Mr Keston Brooke
Email:hlfclaims_office06@yahoo.co.uk
Tel+44-701-115-1157
+44-703-184-5834
+44-703-196-4391

You are to provide the assigned cliams agent with the under listed
information as soon as possible.
=========================================================================================
APPLICATION FOR PRIZE CLAIM (Receipt Official Notification Letter)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[FULL NAME OF
WINNER]..................................................................

[FULL MAILING
ADDRESS]..................................................................

[COUNTRY/
REGION]....................................................................

[STATE/
PROVINCE]...................................................................

[DATE OF BIRTH].........../......../........................................

[SEX].......................................................................

MARITAL STATUS].............................................................

[OCCUPATION]................................................................

[CURRENT E-MAIL]............................................................

[TEL/FAX]...................................................................

Please indicate "X" for the option you want your prize remitted to you. Listed are the options of receiving prize payment.

1). CASH PICK UP IN ANY OF OUR PAYMENT CENTRES IN EUROPE(AMSTERDAM IN THE NETHERLANDS AND MADRID
SPAIN)[....]

2) CERTIFIED CHEQUE MADE OUT IN YOUR NAME COURIED TO YOU VIA OUR AFFILIATE COURIER COMPANY[....]

Once again on behalf of all our staff, CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Tina Forrester
LOTTERY COORDINATOR.

N.B:
1. All claims are nullified after 20 working days from today.
2. Your Ref number must be in all your mails with the claims officer.
3. Do inform the claims officer of any change of names or addresses.
4. Please do not reply to this email. Contact your claims agent.
*************************************************************************************************
*************************************************************************************************
The INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT, UK. Is proudly sponsored by financial Corp's, the Heritage group and a conglomerate of other international IT companies. And is organized to encourage the use of the Internet and computers worldwide. We are proud to say that over 200 Million Pounds are won annually in more than 150 countries worldwide.
Once again on behalf of all our staff, CONGRATULATIONS!!!

NOTE: Do not send your reply to the original sent email,you are to contact your claims officer/agent.

Copyright © Heritage Funds Promotions 2006.

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam