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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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 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!
• 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.
  • +447023055616 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: IRISH LOTTERY CLAIMS OFFICE <irishclaimsoffice@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 2 Jun 2007 19:57:53 +0100 (BST)
Subject: ATTN: CLAIMS VERIFICATION FORM


IRISH LOTTERY,
ONLINE SWEEPSTAKES.
Ref:LSUK/2031/8161/05
Batch:R3/A312-59

CLAIMS VERIFICATION FORM.
Dear Winner,

I am Cheryl Smith your claims agent who is to guide you through the process of
claiming your cash prize. Congratulations once again from all the staff here.
For the avoidance of doubt, your email address was gotten from one of the
websites that you visited and it emerged as one of the lucky winner emails.
So in order to verify your winnings, we need your winning and personal data


for record and verifications purposes. Below is a verifications/data form;

please fill accordingly so as to proceed with your winnings.
Please attach a recent passport photograph (optional but advisable)
(For easy identification at payment point)
Please note that if at any time any alteration is found on the verification form it renders your claims void.

Yours Faithfully
CHERYL SMITH(Dr).
Online coordinator for the IRISH LOTTERY
Sweepstakes Programme.
+44-702-305-5616
+44-703-184-9933

CONFIRMATION FORM

PERSONAL DATA


FULL NAMES: _________________________________

GENDER______________________________________

DATE OF BIRTH:________________________________

NATIONALITY: ________________________________

COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE: _________________________

MARITAL STATUS: ______________________________

HOME ADDRESS: ________________________________

OFFICE ADDRESS: _______________________________

TELEPHONE NUMBER:_________________________________

FAX NUMBER: ____________________________________

COMPANY NAME: ____________________________________

OCCUPATION: ____________________________________

POSITION HELD: ___________________________________

TICKET NUMBER: __________________________________

EMAIL ADDRESS:__________________________

ANNUAL INCOME:_____________________


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam