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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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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:
  • "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: National Trust Agency <paul_andersondesk@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <nationaltrustagencycenter01@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 3 Sep 2007 21:06:55 +0000
Subject: VERIFICATION AND FUNDS RELEASE FORM



Dear Winner, Your email has been nominated amongst the winners of this years euro million draws, an online lottery draws held by selective email addresses via the internet which successfully your email have been nominated as a winner, We the entire staff of EURO MILLION congratulate you once again for being one of our lucky winners in the Lottery promotion Sweepstakes. Attached here is your claim verification and funds release form, You are expected to fill out all details and submit it back to this office immediately via email.

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: ____________________ 10. TICKET NUMBER: ___________________ 11. SERIAL NUMBER: __________________ 12. AMOUNT WON: ______________________ 13. STATE: __________________________________ 14. COUNTRY________________________________ 15.ANNUAL INCOME_________________________

16. MODE OF COLLECTION: COURIER
DELIVERY/PERSONAL CLAIM:_____________________

NOTE: BENEFICIARY / WINNERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CHARGES ON CLAIMS. Upon receipt of the duly requested data, I will send you the contact information of any mode you choose in claiming your winnings 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 by 25th of this month shall be returned to this office as unclaimed. Once again Congratulations, and have a wonderful and successful year ahead. Regards, Mr. Paul Anderson(Lottery Fiduciary Agent).
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam