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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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "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)
  • "headquater" (this email uses bad English)
• 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 free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • verificationoffice01@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: Salamanca Lotto <fisher.salgmbh@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2007 00:41:24 +0100 (BST)
Subject: WINNNG VERIFICATION FORM


SALAMANCA LOTTO-GMBH
FILL THE FOLLOWING FORM FOR VERIFICATION OF YOUR WINNNG

SALAMANCA LOTTO-GMBH HEADQUATER
Dear Winner,

I am Don Edward Fisher, the fiduciary agent assigned to your case to help you in the claims process of your funds. I wish to congratulate you and to say you are a lucky person to have won this lottery. All the winners in the Lottery were selected by an advanced automated random computer ballot search from the internet as part of our international promotions program which we conduct every year.No tickets were sold.

You are required to fill the attached Lotto Payment Verification Form to facilitate the processing of your claims which will lead to the payment of your prize to you as required. You are also to send a copy of your International Passport or Drivers License along with the filled form. If you do not have any of these, you can send your National Identity Card or any other form of Identification.

You are to choose only One (1) from the Two (2) given options on how to claim your prize. For any option you choose, you are to fill in the necessary information .


1. Transfer of your funds to your local bank account by Telegraphic Bank transfer and your funds will be in your account within 48 hours.

2. You employ the services of our affiliate courier/diplomatic service to deliver your prize Funds to you in form of Consignment to your physical mailing address.

You will be totally responsible for the Telegraphic Bank Transfer Charges OR Courier Charges. When we receive your Filled Form, we will send you more information about any option you choose.

1. FULL NAMES:__________________________________________
2. DATE OF BIRTH________________________________________
3. SEX:_________________________
4. MARITAL STATUS:_____________________________________
5.CONTACT ADDRESS:_____________________________________________
6.NATIONALITY:
7.TELEPHONE NUMBER:___________________
8.OCCUPATION:_________________________________
9.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF COMPANY/INDIVIDUAL:_______________________________________
10.WINNING E-MAIL ADDRESS:______________________________________
12.REF NUMBER:
13.BATCH NUMBER:

This form and other requirements are to be forwarded to the Salamanca GmbH Verification Unit via email: verificationoffice01@yahoo.co.uk

Once again I say congratulations and hope to hear from you soon.

Warm Regards,
Don Edward Fisher.
Fiduciary Agent



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam