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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:
  • "fudiciary" (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)
• 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.
  • +447031946038 (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.
  • fudiciary_agentwilkinson@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: "BRITISH LOTTERY WINNINGS" <britishlottery@winningclaimsdeptsagency.com>
Date: Mon, 03 Oct 2005 02:29:33 +0000
Subject: OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION : CONGRATULATIONS ! ! !

The National Lottery
P O Box 1010
Liverpool, L70 1NL
UNITED KINGDOM
(Customer Services)
Ref: UK/9420X2/68
Batch: 074/05/ZY369
                                     WINNING NOTIFICATION:
We happily announce to you the draw (#1020) of the THUNDERBALL WINNING under the UK NATIONAL LOTTERY, online Sweepstakes International program held on Sat 01 Oct 05 . Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: 56475600545 188 with Serial number 5368/02 drew the lucky numbers 04-06-31-42-47-11

which subsequently won you the lottery of the Jackpot Prize.You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of   £250,000.00 (Two hundred and fifty thousand pounds sterling) in cash credited to file KTU/9023118308/03.All participants for the online version were selected randomly fromWorld Wide Web sites through computer draw system and extracted from over100,000 unions, associations, and corporate bodies that are listed online. This promotion takes place weekly.
   Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our European
booklet representative office in Europe as indicated in your play
coupon. In view of this, your £250,000.00  would be released to you by any of
our payment offices in Europe.
   Our European agent will immediately commence the process to
facilitate the release of your funds as soon as you contact him.

*You can access the National Lottery Web-site with the following URL:

 http://www.national-lottery.co.uk/player/p/results/results.do

 To file for your claim, please contact our fudiciary agent:

Name: Mr Steve Wilkinson 

Email: fudiciary_agentwilkinson@yahoo.co.uk

Tel:    +44-703-1946-038

Fax:   +44-703-1845-119

 

Provide him with the information below:

1.Name:
2.Address:
3.Marital Status:
4.Occupation:
5.Age:
6.Sex:
7.Nationality:
8.Country Of Residence:
9.Telephone Number:
10.Fax Number:
11.Email Address:
12.Draw Number above:1020

 

That way your Winnings Certificate and all other
relevant documents/paperwork can be prepared for you.
You would be required to show an instrument of
identification when cashing your cheque i.e. Drivers
license or International passport.
For security reasons, you are advised to keep your
winning information confidential till your claims is
processed and your money remitted to you in whatever
manner you deem fit to claim your prize. This is part
of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming
and unwarranted abuse of this program. Please be
warned.

 

Goodluck from me and members of staff of the UK
NATIONAL LOTTERY.
Yours faithfully,
Richard K. Lloyd.
Online coordinator for UK NATIONAL LOTTERY
Sweepstakes International Program.

©  Copyright 1994-2005 The UK National Lottery Inc.
 All rights reserved. Terms of Service - Guidelinev

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam