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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
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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:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "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: ITALIAN NATIONAL LOTTERY <italianlotterydept101@yahoo.it>
Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2007 20:19:52 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: FILL IN THE WINNER VERIFICATION AND CLEARANCE FORM


IL LOTTERY NAZIONALE ITALIANO
VILLA SAN PAOLO
VIA DELLA PIAZZUOLA 43
50133 FLORENCE
ITALY.
BATCH: 67-01-01-07

ATTN:Winner,

ONCE AGAIN THE WHOLE OF IL LOTTERY NAZIONALE ITALIANO STAFFS ARE CONGRATULATING YOU, SO PLEASE WE ADVISE YOU TO FILL THIS VERIFICATION FORM AND GET BACK TO ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WITH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATIONS TO ENABLE US FILE YOUR CLIAMS.
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.BATCH NUMBER:____________________ B. REF NUMBER:______________
10.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF COMPANY/INDIVIDUAL___________
11.AMOUNT WON:___________________________________
___________________________________________
12. COUNTRY________________________________
13. INDICATE PREFERRED MODE OF PRIZE COLLECTION: ?
(A) CHEQUE ?
(B) BANK TRANSFER ?
IF BY BANK TRANSFER ?
(Details of the account where you want your funds transferred):
______________________________________________________________
Upon receipt of the duly requested data, Do note that you are to make
payment of the courier charge of any delivery options you indicated/specify to enable your winning be sent to you immediately in less than 48hrs to your door step via first class courier service, and we will send you the contact information of the payment office so you can proceed with effecting the release of your claim in anyway you deem fit.

Warm Regards,
Mario Givani
Claims Agent
Tel:+39315235201



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam