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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:
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
• 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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +447045719048 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: CHERRY RINGS <info_cherryringsofficeboxx@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 26 Jul 2007 10:41:52 +0100 (BST)
Subject: LOTTERY VERIFICATION AND FUNDS RELEASE FORM


Dear Winner

Your email has been received. We the entire staff of Lottery Board congratulate you once again for being one of our lucky winners in this year lottery promotion stake. Please attached here is the claim verification and funds release form. You are expected to fill and submit it back to the fiduciary agent immediately via email. Once again congratulations

VERIFICATION AND FUNDS RELEASE FORM

1. FULL NAMES: __________________________________

2. ADDRESS: _____________________________________________

3. SEX: _______________

4. AGE: ________

5. MARITAL STATUS: ___________________

6. OCCUPATION: ________________________

7. E-MAIL ADDRESS: _____________________________

8. TEL AND FAX NUMBERS: _____________________

9. REFERENCE NUMBERS: ____________________

10. TICKET NUMBER: ___________________

11. SERIAL NUMBER: __________________

12. AMOUNT WON: ______________________

13. STATE: __________________________________

14. COUNTRY________________________________

Upon receipt of the duly requested data, I will send you the contact information of the paying Bank so you can proceed with effecting the release of your claims.

Note: This Lottery was won via a selection of email addresses, which yours was selected and qualified you as a winner. Any funds unclaimed by 30th of July shall be returned to this office as unclaimed and used for our up coming mega jackpot games.

Regards,

Mrs. Cherry Rings (Fiduciary Agent)
Phone: +44-704-571-9048


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam