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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "insurance fee " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "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. )
• 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.
  • +447035939320 (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.
  • ahgent2@googlemail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Patricia Elsworth" <ahgent2@googlemail.com>
Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2009 02:18:55 -0500
Subject: Hello!


Skype Awards Promo
From The Desk Of The Promotions Manager
International Promotions/Skype Award Center
124 Stockport Road, Longsight,
Manchester M60 2DB - United Kingdom

Reference Number: 1037231LL

This is to inform you that you have won a prize money of Five Hundred
Thousand Pounds(£500,000,00.) for the month of January,2009 Prize
promotion which is organized by Skype AWARDS. The Skype collects all the
email addresses of the people that are active online,among the millions
that subscribed to various websites. Six people are selected monthly to
benefit from this promotion and you are one of the Selected Winners.

PAYMENT OF PRIZE AND CLAIM
Winners shall choose from one of the payment option stated below:

A] Bank Wire Transfer
For this option, winners must provide the below stated information:
(1) Bank Full Name:
(2) Bank Full Address (including State and Country)
(3) Bank Telephone Number
(4) Bank Account Number
(5) Name of Owner of Account
(6) Swift Code
(7) Charge of Transfer (C.O.T) - £650 (Must be paid before consignment
transfer of funds)

B] International Certified Cheque

For this option, winners must provide the below stated information:
(1) Your Full Name
(2) Your Complete Mailing Address
(3) A Scanned Copy of your I.D clearly showing your face. (Note that this
I.D will be required to claim your parcel when it arrives your apartment).
(4) Insurance Fee & Shipment charge of £352 (Must be paid before
consignment dispatch)

All funds must be claimed no later than 5 days from date of Draw
Notification. Any prize not claimed within this period will be
forfeited.Stated below are your identification numbers:

Below you will find a Processing Form, requesting your required
Particulars. Please provide all requested information to help us processs
your claim in good time.

Skype ONLINE PROCESSING FORM

REFERENCE NUMBER:____________________________
FULL NAMES:__________________________________
ADDRESS:
_________________________________________________CITY:_________________________
STATE:__________________________________ ZIP: _____________________
PHONE:/FAX__________________________________
COUNTRY________________________________
SEX:_______________
AGE:__________________
MARITAL STATUS: _________________
OCCUPATION: ________________________
E-MAIL ADDRESS: _____________________________
NATIONALITY_________________________
PAYMENT OPTION: [A]_________________ / [B]_______________

Forms Should be returned to your claim agent with details below

Agent Austine Hefner
ahgent2@googlemail.com
Tel: +447035939320

CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN


Yours in service
Patricia Elsworth
(Lottery Coordinator)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WARNING!
This Notification MUST remain confidential until your funds is
successfully handed over to you to avoid disqualification that may arise
from double claim. You may also receive similar e-mails from people
portraying our image. This is solely to collect your personal information
from you and lay claim over your winning. In the event you receive any
e-mail similar to this notification letter we have emailed you, kindly
delete it from your mail box and make no further correspondence to such
persons or body.Skype shall not be held responsible for any loss of fund
arising from the above mentioned.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam