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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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:
  • "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)
• 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.
  • +448709127801 (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.
  • interpaycenter@netscape.net

Fraud email example:

From: Freelotto clearance <freelotto_verificationoffice@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 3 Apr 2007 04:24:35 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Please contact paying bank for release of winnings.



REELOTTO AFFILIATED OFFICE U.K,
82 VICTORIA STREET
VICTORIA LONDON SW1 U.K

Attn: Wilburn Seilerzer.

Having executed our vetting and thorough investigation on your winning claim to the best of our knowledge and the verification and confirmation of the co-ordinates of the above captioned upon which you have won, we are glad to inform you that your claims documents have been successfully processed and endorsed for final payment, all arrangement has been finalized today as required in this sixth lottery category winning.

Having done a proper verification of your claims, we find you worthy of payment the sum of GBP 1 million POUNDS in cash Credited to file Ref: TFR/9900034943/JPT as such, Your winning cheque has been forwarded to our Paying Bank at the THE INTERNATIONAL PAYMENT CENTRE (I.P.C) Please make sure you visit our website to see some of our recent winners, if you do not find your photo, it means you did not submit any: www.uk-freelotto.freeservers.com

Presently all you need to do in other for you to claim your winning price is to contact the THE INTERNATIONAL PAYMENT CENTRE (I.P.C) with your Reference and Batch through the following contact information below:

BANK NAME: THE INTERNATIONAL PAYMENT CENTRE
ACCOUNT OFFICER : MR. ADAMS NICE.
FAX NUMBER: +44-870-912-7801
EMAIL: interpaycenter@netscape.net

More importantly, make sure to contact me again as soon as you have established communication with the bank to let me know that your case is being attended to.

We have also sent a copy of your Winning Certificate to the paying bank, the hard copy (original) certificate of prize claim and the award-winning certificate would be sent to you via registered post upon the completion of the transfer of your winning funds to you as required in the final payment. When contacting the Bank, make sure you also forward to them your full contact details, such as Telephone number, Contact Address, and any other relevant information concerning this promotion.

CONGRATULATIONS
Yours sincerely,
Raymond Petters.


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam