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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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "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.
  • +447031845628 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: uknationallotto uknationallotto <uknational20052006lotto@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 20 Dec 2006 08:48:21 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Claim Notice



ATTN: Fredrika Hirsch
Reference #: EGS/2251256003/03
Batch # : 14/0017/1PD

Congratulations.

We are in receipt of your email sent to this department, and we have verified and officially confirmed you as the prize winner with reference #EGS/2251256003/03 attached to batch number 14/0017/1PD as indicated by our computer ballot program system, and has been approved for the lump pay out of Five Hundred and Fifty Thousand Pounds Only.

We wish to congratulate you once again on your Prize winnings. This email is to inform you that, your claim is currently being processed. You may also elect to have a Certified Cashier Cheque sent to you, should you not have a bank account and your details will be forwarded to our paying bank.

PROCEDURE FOR CLAIMING YOUR PRIZE

Firstly, you are required to come down to United Kingdom by December 28th, 2006 to personally sign all legal documents with a statutory game board commission on your prize before the fund is transferred to your account or the Certified Cashier Cheque issued to you by our paying bank. (Option #1)

If however you are not able to come down here personally for the signing process, the game board commission will appoint you an affiliated legal practitioner to provide the required documents as well as perform the signing on your behalf. (Option #2)

Should you choose option #2 please advise us so that we can send you the payment CLAIMS APPLICATION FORM for processing of your prize winning. Note that you shall be responsible for paying the fees for the processing and remitting of your prize or sending your Certified Cashier Check to you, by a registered Express Courier Service. This service we will undertake on your behalf.

Please let me know as soon as possible which of the options you prefer.

I will be sending you the claim form as soon as I hear from you. Please call me should you have any question.

I look forward to hearing from you

Sincerely Yours,
Mr. Harry Wilson
+44 703 184 5628
(Information and Promotion Manager
(Claims Dept)




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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam