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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "22 garden close, stamford" (address often used in fake lottery scams)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • ",000,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "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. )
  • "certified bank draft" (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!
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +447031832908 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • enquiries_williamsclaimsoffice@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • info_williamsclaimsdept@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: WILLIAMS CARPENTER <enquiries_williamsclaimsoffice@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2007 10:57:56 +0100 (BST)
Subject: BILL GATES LOTTERY AWARD CLAIMS PROCEDURE



22 Garden Close, Stamford,
Lincs,PE9 2YP,London
United Kingdom
Email: enquiries_williamsclaimsoffice@yahoo.co.uk
info_williamsclaimsdept@yahoo.co.uk
PHONE NUMBERS : +44 703 183 2908 , +44 703 197 0181



ATTN: Winner,


FROM THE OFFICE OF CLAIMS MANAGER

I wish to Congratulate you on your success in the the MICROSOFT CORPORATION WORLD LOTTERY AWARD International program. The amount you have won is £1,000,000.00{One Million Great Britain Pounds}


Kindly accept my congratulations for being selected as one of the lucky winners.

Note that participants of this program were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from thousands of email addresses of individuals and companies from Africa, America, Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, Middle East, and New Zealand as part of our international promotions program which is conducted annually.


With funds accrued exclusively from previous draws, payouts to all winners are guaranteed and will be transferred in record time.

Please note the following :

1. All claims are nullified after 20 working days from today.
2. Your details must be stated properly in the claims form.
3. Do inform the claims manager of any change in names or address.


The funds have been fully insured by this organisation and deposited with our paying bankers from where the funds will be transfered.

Please complete the form below with correct information and send back to us via email.

INFORMATION REQUIRED FROM WINNER/BENEFICIARY


THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION SHOULD BE SUPPLIED COMPREHENSIVELY BY THE BENEFICIARY OF THE STATED FUNDS FOR VERIFICATION BEFORE TRANSFER.
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:........................
10.WINNING NUMBERS:...................
11.TICKET NUMBER:......................
12.A COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION(INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT/DRIVER'S LICENCE)


CHOOSE ANY PAYMENT OPTION YOU PREFER FOR THE PAYMENT OF YOUR PRIZE
1. BANK TELEGRAPHIC TRANSFER

2. CERTIFIED BANK DRAFT

3. CASHIER CHEQUE

If your your preferred payment option is Bank Telegraphic Transfer, then you are required to fill your bank details below.



BANK NAME: ................................

ACCOUNT NUMBER: ...............

SWIFT CODE: .....................................

BANK ADDRESS: ........................................

CITY: ...............................................

COUNTRY:...............................................

BANK TELEPHONE:............

FAX:.....................................



DECLARATION:

I...............HEREBY DECLARE THAT THE ABOVE DATA ARE TRUE. IN CASE OF ANY UNFORSEEN CIRCUSTANCE, MY NEXT OF KIN HAS THE RIGHT TO CLAIM MY TOTAL WINNINGS.

DATE--------
========================================================

This lottery details is for the exclusive use of the addressee(s).This lottery details may also be privileged or protected by legal rules. If you have received this email by mistake please let us know by reply immediately and/or delete the email and its attachments without reading, copying or forwarding the contents.

Congratulations once again from all members and staff of MICROSOFT CORPORATION WORLD LOTTERY AWARD and thank you for being part of our lottery program.




Warm Regards,


MR WILLIAMS CARPENTER

CLAIMS MANAGER





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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam