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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) 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:
  • "fiduciary 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.
  • +34666934504 (Spain, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Spanish Free Lottery <spanishfreelotto@yahoo.es>
Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2007 22:27:21 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: CLAIM PROCESSING FORM.


FROM: GOVERNMENT ACCREDITED LICENSED LOTTERY PROMOTERS.
FREELOTTO AFFILIATED OFFICE SPAIN .
Tel: +34-666-934-504
Fax: +34-911-311-745


Dear Winner,

Welcome to the Freelotto claims and verification department. I am Mr. Richard Smith. Freelotto Claims/Fiduciary Agent here in Spain. The email you received is a winning notification of the recent email lottery draws that was held in Spain.

On release of the results your email address was selected as a winner of our superbucks stakes and your application for claim of lottery winning prize is under process and full settlement will be made upon certification of your details.

Be informed that we are in possession of your prize-winning certificate which will be sent to the financial institution to effect your payment when you have completed the form below and return it to us within 48 hrs from the date of this email.

Hence, carefully fill in the appropriate information in the spaces provided in the Claim Form to facilitate our immediate processing of your prize claim. Your funds have since been deposited with a Bank in Spain for settlement of your winning. Once we receive the requested information, your claims file will be sent to the Bank for your settlement.

Please, you are advised to send along the filled form, a copy of your personal Identification preferably the photo page of your international passport or Drivers license for proper identification and it will also be included in our next winners album. www.freelotto.com/ThisWeeksWinners.asp

THE BENEFICIARY/OWNER OF THE WINNING EMAIL SHOULD COMPLETE THIS CLAIMS FORM.


1.FULL NAMES OF BENEFICIARY: 2.RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS: 3.DATE AND PLACE OF BIRTH: 4.NATIONALITY: 5.NAME AND ADDRESS OF NEXT OF KIN: 6.SEX: 7.MARITAL STATUS: 8.OCCUPATION: 9.PHONE/FAX NUMBERS:

10.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF COMPANY/INDIVIDUAL 11.AMOUNT WON:

12.WINNING E-MAIL ADDRESS: 13.BATCH NUMBER AND TICKET NUMBER :



PLEASE SELECT PREFERRED MODE OF PAYMENT FROM BELOW:

CHECK PROPERLY BEFORE SELECTION. OPTION ONE(1): PICK UP PERSONALLY HERE IN SPAIN.


OPTION TWO(2): CASHIER'S CHEQUE OPTION THREE(3): TELEGRAPHIC TRANSFER.


DECLARATION I (..........................................) HEREBY DECLARE THAT THE ABOVE DATA ARE TRUE, AND IN CASE OF ANY UNFORSEEN CIRCUMSTANCES, MY NEXT OF KIN HAS THE RIGHT TO CLAIM MY TOTAL WINNINGS. N:B: You are advised to keep your winning strictly confidential until your winning is processed and received by you. This is to avoid double claiming which could lead to disqualification.

Do have a nice day as we remain obliged to be of service to you, Accept our congratulations.

Sincerely, Fiduciary Agent,
Mr. Richard Smith, Tel: +34-666-934-504
Fax:+34-911-311-745 Freelotto international promotions, property of the PlasmaNet Inc. Copyright 2007. All Rights reserved.


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam