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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 agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
• 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!

Fraud email example:

From: AGENT GLOBAL LOTTERY <mr_guntis@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sun, 9 Sep 2007 15:10:25 +0100 (BST)
Subject: INDICATE THE MEANS YOU WISH YOUR PRIZE MONEY BE TRANSFERED TO YOU:


DEAR WINNER, HR KIRSCHER.

YOUR DRIVERS LICENCE WAS RECEIVED FEW HOURS AGO HERE ON MY DESK.
NOW YOU HAVE TO INDICATE THE MEANS YOU WISH YOUR PRIZE MONEY BE TRANSFERED TO YOU:

-CHECK (charges disclosed)
By this means, Your prize would be prepared as a check which would be globally accepted in any International Bank. The check would be prepared and shipped to your door step through a courier service to the address you forwarded to us.

- ATM CARD (charges disclosed)
In this process, The prize money will be built on a card which only the winner would have the *PIN CODE* to withdraw the money any where in the world. ATM card is globally accepted in any bank that have a card slot machine *ATM MACHINE*

-DIPLOMAT OFFICER (Charges disclosed)
A Global Lottery International Diplomat Officer would come down to your door step with a box of your prize money for delivery.
-YOUR CONTINENT'S REGIONAL CLAIMS AGENT (Charges disclosed)
You will be directed to our Regional Officer for claim.

-TELEX WIRE TRANSFER *BANK TO BANK TRANSFER* (charges disclosed)
On this process, All that is required from you is your banking
details to enable the transfer to commence.
Indicate the means you wish your prize money be transfered to you and be informed of the charges.

NB.
GET BACK TO ME AS SOON AS YOU MAKE YOUR CHOICE OF TRANSFER.

CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN.
MR GUNTIS IVON
Africa Regional Claims Agent


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam