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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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• 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)
• 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)
  • "courier company" (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: Uklottery Board <uklottery_claimsagent021@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sun, 5 Aug 2007 12:48:10 +0100 (BST)
Subject: ATTN:Winner



UK National Lottery,
2 Lansdowne Row,
Berkeley Square,
London, W1J 6H,
United Kingdom,
(Customer Services)
Ref : UK/776090X2/23
Batch: 013/05/8394369

ATTN:Winner
Thanks your for your mail. Addresses of individuals and companies from America, Asia, Africa, Australia,Canada,Europe, Middle East, and New Zealand were included as part of our International Promotions Program . UK ONLINE LOTTERY is launching its model computer balloting lottery draws,developed and designed to satisfy the cravings of the evergrowing number of participants in our various lottery programs. This is a promotional draw which officially launches the new system. With funds accrued exclusively from previous draws, payouts to all winners are guaranteed and will be transferred in record time. After randomly selecting 15,000 participants from an initial database of 300,000 emails and zoning all participants by their respective continents from across the globe, we produced an extensive list from which you have emerged as one of the winners of the Promotional Grand Draw prize.Please complete the form below with correct information and email back to us with a return
email above.
Looking forward to your urgent reply.
Yours Faithfully,
Mr.Edison John (UK ONLINE LOTTO)

VERIFICATION FORM


1.FULL NAMES OF BENEFICIARY: 2.RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS: 3.DATE AND PLACE OF BIRTH: 4.PHONE/FAX NUMBERS: 5.NAME AND ADDRESS OF NEXT OF KIN: 6.SEX: 7.OCCUPATION: 8.MARITAL STATUS: 9.NATIONALITY:
PAYMENT MODE: OPTIONS
1.BANK TO BANK WIRE TRANSFER. 2.CERTIFIED CHEQUE MADE OUT IN YOUR NAME COURIERED TO YOU VIA OUR AFFILIATE COURIER COMPANY AND WILL BE DELIVERED TO YOUR ADDRESS.




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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam