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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:
  • "your urgent reply" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "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. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• 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: Jermaine Douglas <verificationunit_claimsmanager@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 7 Jul 2007 11:53:55 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Do Fill And Get Back To This Office Thank You.


Dear Lucky Winner.Wilbur Ackermacher,
We wish to let you know that since you cannot meet up with charges for your winning parcel to be delivered to you the management has finally asked you to carefully read and get back to this office, and we wish to let you know that this fund are to be recycle for our next promotion.

Your cheque will be reissue once you are ready for your claims within below days
As your fund has been deposited in an escrow account and insured in your name.

Your filling the form gives us the right over your claims. If after this 2 days and you do not contact this department and do not fill the form, you have know right to come forward for your prize money any other time as we have done our best.

Please complete the form below with correct information and email back to us with a return email. Looking forward to your urgent reply.
Yours Faithfully,
Online Coordinator
THIS FORM SHOULD BE COMPLETED IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE ONLY.

FIRST
NAME..............................................................
LAST
NAME...............................................................
TICKET
NUMBER................................................................
.
..........
...
AMOUNT
WON...................................................................
.
..........
....
BATCH
N.....................................................................
.
.........
...........
REFERENCE
N.....................................................................
.
.........
REASONS FOR NOT CLAIMING
PRIZE/MONEY......................................................
......................................................................
.
..........
...........
DECLARATION:

I...............................................................HEREBY
DECLARE
THAT I DO NOT WISH TO CLAIM MY PRIZE/MONEY AND WILL LOOSE THE RIGHT TO SUE FOR RECLAIMS.

DATE..................................................................
.
(YOUR FULL
NAMES)................................................................
.
........
......................................................................
.
..........
................
This email and its attachments are confidential and intended for the exclusive use of the addressee(s). This email and its attachments may also be privileged or protected by legal rules. If you have received this by mistake please let us know by reply immediately and destroy the email and its attachments without reading, copying or forwarding.

Best Regards,
Jeremanie Douglas(Mr.)



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam