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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:
  • "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.
  • +447022409702 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +448704909880 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: Stanford Smith <claimsagent_stanford@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 09:40:52 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Re: ticket number 101-OIO-77/A


Dear Prashanth B. S.,

I am in receipt of you email, I am presently procesing your prize claim, at the moment a request have been placed by me to the PREMIER LOTTERY UK for the release of your Prize Award Certificate this will take up to 24 working hours, as soon as i receive it, a scanned copy will be sent to you, meanwhile find below how you won their grand prize.

PREMIER LOTTERY UK conducted its final draws, participants were selected through a Computer ballot system drawn from Lucky winners,selected at random via a computer ballot system drawn from 2,500,000 email addresses of individuals and Corporate bodies from Africa, America, Asia, Australia, Europe, Middle East, and Oceania. You emerged as one of the grand draw prize in the Category A and therefore you are entitled to a sum of £2,500,000.00 (two million five hundred thousand Great Britain pounds only).

Note that the Category A draws under which you won is a free promotional draw, hence you do not have to purchase tickets to participate. Names and email addresses of individuals and companies are selected from various coperate companies email database from around the world and entered into the draw. This draw is being organized because PREMIER LOTTERY UK intend on opening offices spread around the world in the near future, hence they want to promote their company name to enhance ticket sales immediately their new offices are opened. Note that the Category A draws is funded from the proceeds of ticket sales in the First and Second category draw also organized by PREMIER LOTTERY UK.

Our company, LINK TRUST FINANCE COMPANY UK LTD is, upon agreements with PREMIER LOTTERY UK to handle all transfer matters between PREMIER LOTTERY UK and you the winner. We shall commence the transfer of your prize winning accordingly upon meeting of our requirements.

Congratulations once more, I shall be awaiting your filled Lottery Winnings Verification Form.

Regards,

Mr Smith Stanford
Finance Director
Link Trust Finance Company Uk Ltd
Tel: +44 702 240 9702
Fax: +44 870 490 9880
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

VERIFICATION FORM.
To complete proper and adequate verification,you are required to send me the below details so as to enable me process your winning.Our duty is to secure and ensure the legal procedures are adherent to and complete an intensive independent investigation of winning email address and eliminate fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation.

NAME: ----------
DATE OF BIRTH: ------------
SEX: ----------
MARITAL STATUS: --------
NEXT OF KIN AND ADDRESS: --------
OCCUPATION/POSITION: -----------
FULL CONTACT ADDRESS: ----------
TELEPHONE NUMBER: ------------
FAX NUMBER: ----------
EMAIL ADDRESS: --------
SECRET PIN CODE: -----------
REFERENCE NUMBER: ----------
AMOUNT WON: ----------

PAYMENT MODE:
1. CERTIFIED CHEQUE MADE OUT IN YOUR NAME COURIERED TO YOU VIA OUR AFFILIATE COURIER COMPANY AND WILL BE DELIVERED TO YOUR ADDRESS.

2. BANK TO BANK WIRE TRANSFER

3. SHEDULE A VISIT TO OUR OFFICE IN EUROPE TO CLAIM YOUR CASH PRIZE


DECLARATION:

I........................................................................................................OF................................................................

............................................................................................................HEREBY DECLARE THAT THE ABOVE DATA ARE TRUE. IN CASE OF ANY UNFORSEEN CIRCUSTANCE, MY NEXT OF KIN HAS THE RIGHT TO CLAIM MY TOTAL WINNINGS.(SUPER STANDARD AGENT) SHALL ACT AS MY AGENT IN FACILITATING THE TRANSFER OF THE TOTAL FUND TO ME.


DATE.................. SIGNATURE..................

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam