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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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)
• 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: "Harrold Halley" <harrold.h@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 22 Jul 2007 04:34:55 +0100
Subject: VERIFICATION FORM.


*Dear Emil Bauermann,

Thank you for your mail and your time, we are in recept of your e-mail this
is the BRITISH NATIONAL LOTTERY you have nothing to worry about all you have
to do is just for you to be careful about this so called internet
scam.ifyou are intrested just contact the courier for your parcel
processing, you
have to fill for us your personal details below
you are to complete the Verification form now so as to aviod double pay out
winnings to another person enabling us to give you directive on how to claim
your winning prize please do this ASAP.

Awaiting hearing

VERIFICATION FORM.

1.FULL NAMES:__________________________________
2.ADDRESS:_____________________________________
3.SEX:__________
4.AGE:__________
5.MARITAL STATUS:___________________
6.OCCUPATION:_______________________
7.E-MAIL ADDRESS:_____________________________
8.TELEPHONE NUMBER:__________________________
9.WINNING NUMBER:____________________________
12.AMOUNT WON:______________________
13.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF COMPANY/INDIVIDUAL_____
14. COUNTRY________________________________
CLAIMANT SIGNATORY DECLARATION.

Congratulations once again.

Regards,
Mr Scotty Moore.
Online Co-ordinator for UK NATIONAL LOTTERY
Sweepstakes International Program*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam