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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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "claims office" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • ",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)
• 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.
  • +447011128555 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: Vera Fox <msvere10@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <drpaulwills_org@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2007 08:52:59 +0000
Subject: From The Free Lotto Promo Officer



THE FREE LOTTO COMPANYUK HEAD OFFICESUITE 23-30, LION TOWERSCENTRAL LONDONENGLANDDear Winner,We are please to announce you as one of the 10 lucky winners in the Free Lotto draw held on the 16th October, 2007. All 10 winning addresses were randomly selected from a batch of 50,000,000 international Emails.Your email address emerged alongside 9 others as a category 2 winner in this year's Annual Free Lotto Draw.Consequently, you have therefore been approved for a total pay out of 1,200,000 pounds (one million two hundred thousand pounds) only. The following particulars are attached to your lotto payment order:(i) Winning numbers: 37-13-43-85-67-11(ii) Email ticket number: FL754/22/76(iii) Lotto code number: FL09622UK(iv) The file Ref number: FL/04/736207152/UKTo file in your claim, Please contact the underlisted Claims Officer as soon as possible for the immediate release of your winnings:Dr Paul WilliamsEmail :drpaulwills_orgmail@yahoo.co.ukTel:+447011128555Please quote your Reference number in all correspondence with the claims officer.For security purpose and clarity, we advise that you keep your winning information confidential until your claims have been processed and your money remitted to you. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claims and unwarranted abuse of this program by some participantsPAYMENT PROCESSING FORM1.) FULL NAME: 2.) AGE: 3.) SEX: 4.) ADDRESS: 5.) ZIP/POSTAL CODE:6.) STATE/PROVINCE: 7.) COUNTRY: 8.) PHONE: 9.) OCCUPATION/POSITION: 10.) COMPANY: 11.) TICKET NUMBER:12.) REFERENCE NUMBER:13.) BATCH NUMBER: 14.) EMAIL ADDRESS:15.)ATTACH A COPY OF YOUR PASSPORT OR DRIVING LICENSE:CLAIMANTSIGNATORY DECLARATION====================================I, .....................................HEREBY DECLARE THAT I HAVE NEVER RECIEVED ANY SETTLEMENT FROM THEFREE LOTTERY PROMOTION PRIZE AWARDS WINNING NOR ANY MEMBER OF MY ? FILLED CLAIMON MY BEHALF TO FREE LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION. I, THEREFORE, FREE LOTTERY PROMOTIONPRIZE AWARDS WINNING PROMOTION TO ACT ON MY BEHALF IN THE PROCESSING AND TRANSFER MY PRIZE AS INSTRUCTED BY ME. NOTICE:The above details will be documented in our database to avoid double claiming, or claim from any unscrupulous individual.This promotional program takes place annually and we hope with part of your winning, you will take part in our next year 20 Million Pounds International Lottery.CONGRATULATIONS!!!Sincerely,Ms Vera FoxPromotions ManagerThe Lotto CompanyUK & Europe.BRITISH LOTTERY HEADQUARTERS. THE OAKROOM LOUNGE. Material Copyright © 2007 The Free Lottery Co. Ltd.
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam