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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "uk national lottery" (can only win this lottery if you bought a ticket)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "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. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. )
• 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: Claims Agent Brown <claimsagent_petersen@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 2 May 2007 12:08:58 +0100 (BST)
Subject: SWIFT REPLY NEEDED!!!



UK ONLINE NOTIFICATION DESK.
GOVERNMENT ACCREDITED LICENSED!!!
UK NATIONAL LOTTERY
IS REGISTERED UNDER THE DATA PROTECTION ACT OF;
(Registration Z720633X).

UK National Lottery Headquarters:
Customer Service
PO Box 1010
Liverpool
L70 1NL
Ref No: UK/9420X2/68
Batch No: 074/05/ZY369

2nd May 2007,

Thanks for your mail. I must inform you that your winnings documents will be posted to you soonest. Meanwhile I would want to assure that nothing will ever go wrong in claiming your winnings that is why I am responsible in helping you claim your winnings without difficulties and I guarantee that your winnings will get to you safely. I will advise you to fill and return the verification form before immediately so we can quickly process your winnings and send your funds to you as the winner.

VERIFICATION FORM
1.Full Name____________________
2.Full Address___________________
3.Marital Status__________________
4.Occupation____________________
5.Age_________________________
6.Sex__________________________
7.Nationality___________________
8.Country Of Residence___________
9.Telephone Number______________
10.Fax Number__________________
11.Serial Number_________________
12.Reference Number_____________
13.Batch Number_________________
14. Prize Winnings________________


Meanwhile as soon as you have filled that. You will have to choose from the option below on how you would want your funds to be delivered.

CLAIM WINNINGS OPTION
Be informed that you are required to choose one of the three options listed below and let us know the chosen option, to facilitate transfer of your claims. For any option chosen, you may be required to provide additional information.

1. You proceed immediately to our Payment Offices in London to redeem your prize and to have your prize awarded to you in a cash that would be moved to a vault company immediately after indicating this, as your preferred option of payment.

2. Transfer of your prize claims to your local bank account in your country by Telegraphic Bank transfer. This will take approximately 48 Hours for the process to be completed and is subject to the banking policy.

3. You employ the services of our affiliate courier company to deliver your Award Certificate and Certified Bank Cheque to you.

SPECIAL NOTICE: FOR OPTION 2 OR 3 TOTAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ACCRUING CHARGES ARE DIRECTLY BEARABLE BY THE LOTTERY WINNER AND NOT OUR ORGANIZATION.

Best Regards,
Mr Petersen Brown (Senior Fiduciary Agent)
© 2007 UK LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL.


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam