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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:
  • "anti-terrorism certificate" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
  • "clear source of funds certificate" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
  • "certificates of origin of funds" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
  • ",000,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "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.
  • +447045728870 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +447011127809 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: Bill Hopkins <bill.hopkins1@live.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 11 Sep 2008 19:33:53 +0100
Subject: CONTACT OUR DISPATCH DEPARTMENT


EUROPEAN ONLINE LOTTERY AWARD.
CUSTOMER SERVICE.
Attn: René Prins, My office has received your mail with your requested details. Note that the selection process was carried out through random selection in our computerized email selection machine (TOPAZ) from a database of over 250,000 email addresses drawn from all the continents of the world. This means that you have been officially cleared for payment by the Verifications Department of the European Lottery Prize Award. Note that the stipulated method for you to receive your prize winnings, is by the delivery of your winning cheque to you. A certificate of prize claims and some vital documents will be sent along side your winning cheque. The documents to be sent are; 1. WINNING CERTIFICATE FROM THE EUROPEAN ONLINE LOTTERY.2. WINNING CHEQUE FOR THE VALUE OF £1,000,000.00 BRITISH POUNDS STERLING.3. CLEAR SOURCE OF FUNDS CERTIFICATE (C.S.F.C.).4. ANTI-TERRORISM CERTIFICATE (A.T.C).5. CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN OF FUNDS (C.O.F.). In regards to the delivery of your winnings, you are to contact our dispatch department/center : European Online Lottery Dispatch Center, with the details below: Delivery Officer: Mr. Steven PetersonEmail: info@europeanlot-dispatchcenter.com
Direct Tel: +44-701-112-7809Direct Fax: +44-700-604-9001

On receipt of your email, they shall educate you on the process mastered to facilitate the shipment of your winning package in the earliest possible time. Have it in mind that your won prize cannot be deducted from , this is because the total amount has been insured to the real value . This is in accordance with section 13(1)(n) of the national gambling act as adopted in 1993 and amended on 3RD July 1996 by the constitutional assembly. I will require a concise update on proceedings.
Regards,Bill Hopkins.Tel: +447045728870.Fax: +447006074687.
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam