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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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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:
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• 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!
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: Gary Cole <nl_claimsoffice@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2007 12:23:11 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Non-residents claims form (fill and return immediately)


FROM THE FIDUCIARY AGENT
THE NATIONAL LOTTERY
P.O.BOX 1010 Liverpool,
L70 1NL United kingdom.
(Customer's Service Center)
10/04/07.

Dear Sammy Cohen,

Congratulation: You have been cleared as one of the winner of The National Lottery. Your prize will be sent to you in whatever way you wish to receive it, but you have to follow the due verification process. In order to proceed with the release of your funds please you are required to fill the clearance and verification form below accurately and submit back to us Immediately to enable us process your claim.

WINNER' S CLAIM FORM

WINNER'S PERSONAL DATA
First Name...........................................................
Middle Name.....................................................
Last Name..........................................................
Gender..............................................................
Date of Birth.......................................................
Marital Status......................................................
Nationality...........................................................
Occupation.........................................................
Address...............................................................
Mobile Phone Number.........................................
House Phone Number.........................................
Fax No.................................................................
Email Address......................................................

WINNING INFORMATION

Batch Number....................................................................
Serial Number.....................................................................
Reference Number...............................................................

PAYMENT OPTION

You are to choose by marking X from any of the payment options listed below.

1. Cash Pick Up..........................................................
2. Courier of your winning draft to you..........................
3. Wire Transfer..........................................................

Warm Regards,
Barrister Gary Cole
Fiduciary Agent
THE NATIONAL LOTTERY



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam