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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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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:
  • "transfer of your funds" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "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.
  • +447011121440 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Lloyds Tsb Bank" <lloyds.tsb1@hotmail.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 21 Dec 2006 12:50:50 +0000
Subject: Lloyds TSB Bank Plc*{UK/OLY/2012}*

                                               

Thank you winner, for contacting us.          Sean David Hurt (£1,666,667)

This message is sent to you because you won a lottery programme., In the amount stated at the top right corner. Lloyds TSB Bank Plc +++++++++++++++++ Direct Tel: 44-701-112-1440   Our Ref: *{UK/OLY/2012}* Your Ref: LTB/UK/A4-X6/00   Dear Sean David Hurt,   Your particulars have been received in this office. This means that you have been officially cleared for payment by the Verifications Dept. at the headquarters of the Lottery.   Your winning cheque, together with a covering document (Money Laundering protection, and Letter of Affidavit for Claims) from the British Government stating that your money was obtained legally through their National Lottery Promotions will be sent to you as soon as you choose from any of the options stipulated below.    You are therefore requested to come in person to the Disbursements Centre of the UK NATIONAL LOTTERY Board with the following requirements: (a) A printed copy of your WINNING NOTIFICATION (b) An International Passport or Drivers license (c) A Printed copy of your Verification form (you may be asked to fill it as done before) (d) Six (6) passport photograph (3*4 size)   If you can not come down in person you are required to select the most convenient of the Four option below: The final step of your claims process, is the shipment of your winning cheque prize to you, OR the transfer of your funds to your Bank Account. With regards to this, there are Four options open to you. You are required to select the most convenient of the Four.   The options together with their associated conditions are presented below:  Recieve your funds  via any of the (4) options listed below: 1.(NORMAL DHL) Mailing:     £100.00 Insurance:   £130.20  Vat:         £90.00 TOTAL:       £320.20 ($607.57)   2.(CLASSIC UPS) Mailing:     £120.00 Insurance:   £150.20  Vat:         £90.00 TOTAL:       £360.20 ($685.99)   3.(PREMIUM FEDEX) Mailing:     £150.30 Insurance:   £200.00  Vat:         £100.31 TOTAL:       £450.61 ($858.22) 4. SWIFT/WIRE TRANSFER : Payment for COT (COST OF TRANSFER) CHARGES: £786.94 ($1,498.58)   After Choosing the Preferred Option, the correspondence will be initiated to The Lloyds TSB Bank, at the details provided below by completing the below Transaction Form:   FULL NAME: COMPLETE ADDRESS: OPTION FOR DELIVERY: (any of the 4 above) IDENTIFICATION: (any valid ID sent via email or fascimile)   Upon our receipt of the completed Transaction Form your prize money will be transferred to you with the option you have choosen.   NOTE: Lloyds TSB cannot pay the courier/transfer fees from your prize money because your money is insured with a Hard Cover Insurance and as such, it cannot be deducted from under any circumstance. Hence you are expected to effect the payment from your end.   Endeavor to reply as soon as possible with the required information.   Contact the undersigned below to be privy of the above information. TREAT WITH DISPATCH YOURS FAITHFULLY West Anderson Chief Financial Officer                                                             Tel :+44-701-112-1440 Fax : 44-8712-647021   24-hour telephone service 0845 609 0000(For Emergencies) International +44 (0) 127 439 4611(For Emergencies) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lloyds TSB Bank plc and Lloyds TSB Scotland plc are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority and signatories to the Banking Codes.   This e-mail is only for the above addressees. It may contain confidential or privileged information. If you are not an addressee you must not copy, distribute, disclose or use any of the information in it or any attachments. If you have received it in error please notify the sender and delete it immediately. Lloyds TSB Bank plc. Registered office: 25 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7HN. Registered in England and Wales, number 2065. Telephone: 020 7626.

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam