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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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• 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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "claims 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!

Fraud email example:

From: YAHOO LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL <claimsdeskhill001@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 31 Jul 2007 09:53:17 +0100 (BST)
Subject: VERIFICATION AND CLEARANCE FORM


Dear Lottery Winner,

I am in the receipt of your email as one of the Yahoo Lottery Intl Inc programs WINNER.I am Mr. Christopher Hill directed as your Claims agent for the PROCESSING of your winnings.In order to verify your winnings,Please we need the you to fill the form below for record purposes, Attached here is a copy of our verifications form, please fill accordingly so as to proceed with your winnings. Congratulations.

VERIFICATION AND CLEARANCE FORM

1.FULL NAMES:
2.ADDRESS:
3.SEX:
4.AGE:
5.MARITAL STATUS :
6.OCCUPATION
7.E-MAIL ADDRESS:
8.TELEPHONE NUMBER):
9.DATE OF BIRTH:
10. BATCH NUMBER
B. REF NUMBER:
11.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF COMPANY/INDIVIDUAL:
12 AMOUNT WON.
13. COUNTRY:
14. PRIZE WINNING DETAILS (TICKET NO.):
15. Serial NO.:
Upon receipt of the duly requested data, I will send you the contact information of the payments office so you can proceed with effecting the release of your claim in anyway you deem fit which is upon clearance from our office.I will always guide you should you have any needed assistance

NOTE: THIS VERIFICATION FORM SHOULD BE COMPLETELY FILLED OUT AND E- MAILED BACK TO ME

Warm Regards,
Mr. Christopher Hill
Claims agent.




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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam