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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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• What can you do when you receive 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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "sent to you via courier service" (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!

Fraud email example:

From: LINKTRUSTFINANCELTD LINKTRUSTFINANCELTD <linktrustfinanceltd@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 17:41:01 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: LOTTERY CLAIMS QUESTIONNAIRE


Dear Prize winner,

How are you doing today?I hope good.I have just receied your email and would like to inform you that your email address won the PREMIER LOTTERY 2006 ballot system draws and you are immediately required to fill a "Lottery Claims Questionnaire with all necessary details and send back to me to effect the transfer of your prize.

LINK TRUST FINANCES LTD.
APPROVED AGENT FOR PREMIER LOTTERY UK
TRINITY ROAD HALIFAX
WEST YORKSHIRE HXI 2RD.
Your Ref:.../
Date:
LOTTERY CLAIMS QUESTIONNAIRE
PERSONAL DETAILS
Beneficiary:
Identification No:
Occupation :
Address:
Amount
Ref-number:
Telephone:
Fax:
E-mail:
______________________________________________
BANK DETAILS
Bank Name:
Bank Address:
Account Number:
Swift Code:
______________________________________________
WINNING DATA
Ticket No:
Batch No:
Ref No:
______________________________________________
MODE OF PAYMENT
Certified Cheque:
Wire Transfer:
______________________________________________
Signature of applicant:

kindly fill the above questionnaire and send back to us either by fax or as an email attachment.

A certificate of prize claim along side other vital documents will be sent to you via Courier service immediately transfer of your winnings is effected. As soon as your form is submitted and verified we shall be sending you, a scanned copy of your prize claims certificate. This is in line with the lotto companies policies and regulations.

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

Truly yours,
MR PHILIP HAMILTON
FINANCIAL DIRECTOR
LINK FINANCE LTD



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam