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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:
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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 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:
  • "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!

Fraud email example:

From: Catherine Nola <catherine2oo7@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <catherinenola_office2007@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sun, 26 Aug 2007 13:32:52 +0100
Subject: =?windows-1256?Q?Fill_And_Return-VERIFICATION_AND_FUNDS_RELEASE_FORM=FE?=
=?windows-1256?Q?=FE=FE?=



Dear Winner,

Your email has been received. We the entire staff of UK National lottery congratulate you once again for being one of our lucky winners in this year lottery promotion Sweepstakes. 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: _UK/9420X2/70

10. BATCH NUMBER: 074/05/ZY345

11. SERIAL NUMBER: 5368/02

12. AMOUNT WON: £4,000.000.00 (Four Million Pounds Sterling )

13. STATE: __________________________________

14. COUNTRY________________________________

15. ANNUAL INCOME_________________________


16. MODE OF COLLECTION- BANK TRANSFER/COURIER/PERSONAL CLAIM __________________

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 shall be returned to this office as unclaimed and used for our up coming mega jackpot games.

Regards,

Mrs. Catherine Nola
(Fiduciary Agent)
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam