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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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 office" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
• 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: "Barr.Stain Green" <department_customerservice@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 7 Aug 2007 20:10:47 +0100 (BST)
Subject: VERIFICATION AND FUND RELEASE FORM



London, 7th August 2007
Dear Winner,
The true winner of this lottery. You may be wondering how you enter into this lottery or how did you win since you did not buy any ticket, well as your claim and disbursement agent.

My job is to explain to you and take you through necessary step to be able to claim your winning fund and to make sure that fund is delivered to you as the rightfull winner of this claim number.

You have been entered into our lottery system automatically through our sources random pickings.

What i mean by this is that, this corporation collect names and addresses of participants through various sources like GROCERY STORES, GAS STATIONS, SALONS, ONLINE SWEEPSTAKE COMPANIES, CREDIT CARD PURCHASING POINT, CASH POINTS e.t.c.


Based on this random picking system, you are one of the lucky winners of our second category to share a sum of 2million POUNDS. According to the letter that you received, your share of the money is 250,000 POUNDS (TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND POUNDS).

WINNERS ARE REQUESTED TO SEND THE FOLLOWING INFORMATIONS TO THE CLAIMS OFFICER:
(Details Of Beneficiary)

VERIFICATION AND FUND RELEASE 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:____________________

10. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF COMPANY/INDIVIDUAL___________

11. AMOUNT WON:___________________________________

12. COUNTRY________________________________

Finally, there are two options open for you to choose the most convenient for you to receive your winnings (tick by putting yes on the most convenient for you) .

1, Telegraphic Bank transfer into any account of your choice anywhere in the world.

2, Mailing a certified cashers bond check to your home address which will be stated above through an insured courier company.

DECLARATION:

I, ____________, HEREBY DECLARE THAT I HAVE NEVER RECIEVED ANY SETTLEMENT FROM THE NATIONAL LOTTERY PROGRAM OR ANY MEMBER OF MY FAMILY FILLEDCLAIM ON MY BEHALF TO FREE LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION. I THEREFORE AUTHORIZE, THE NATIONAL LOTTERY PROGRAM TO ACT ON MY BEHALF IN THE PROCESSING AND SEND MY PRIZE AS INSTRUCTED BY ME.

SIGNATURE :( TYPE IN YOUR NAMES): ________________________________
DATE: ________________________






Congratulation once again and hope to received the verification form as soon as possible.

Many Regards,
Barr.Stain Green,
Lottery Department Agents.




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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam