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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
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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:
  • "claim 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)
• 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.
  • +447040120619 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +448717338632 (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.
  • claimagent_paul@hotmail.com
  • claimagent_paul@hotmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "DERBYLOTTOGROUP INTERNATIONAL" <gerbylottogroupinternational@msn.com>
Date: Tue, 11 Oct 2005 20:25:56 +0000
Subject: PRIZE NOTIFICATION

DERBYLOTTO GROUP INTERNATIONAL
UK OFFICE
SUITE 23-30, LION TOWERS
CENTRAL LONDON
ENGLAND

Dear Winner,

On the behalf of DERBYLOTTO GROUP INTERNATIONAL OF UNITED KINGDOM, I wish to
announce you as one of the 10 lucky Winners in the FreeLotto draw held on
the 3rd October 2005. All 10 winning addresses were randomly selected from a
batch of 50,000,000 international emails. Your email address emerged
alongside 9 others as 2nd category winner in this
Year’s Annual FreeLotto Draw. Consequently, you have therefore been approved
for a total pay out of £1,500,000 (One million five hundred thousand GBP
only). The following particulars are attached to your lotto payment order:

(i) Winning numbers: 37-13-43-23-34-11
(ii) Email ticket number: FL754/22/76
(iii) Lotto code number: FL09622UK
(iv) The file Ref number: FL/04/736207152/UK

Note that the DERBYLOTTO GROUP INTERNATIONAL will remit prize payout to only
winners who officially file in for their prize claims. You are to choose one
out of the listed option by which you want your prize remitted to you:

(1) A certified Cheque will be issued in your name and couriered to your
resident address.

(2) Traveling to our office in London for personal collection of winning
prize.

Please contact the under listed claims officer as soon as possible for the
immediate release of your winnings:

PRINCIPAL CONSULT
14 BRIDGE ROAD
STOKESLEY
MIDDLESBOROUGH
CLEVELAND
TS9 5AA
UNITED KINGDOM
TEL: +44-704-012-0619
FAX: +44-871-733-8632
EMAIL: claimagent_paul@hotmail.com

Once again on behalf of all our staff, CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Sincerely,
GROUP PRESIDENT - DLG

This email notification is auto-generated its contents are valid for only
two weeks and it is unmonitored so do not reply.
*******************************************************************
The FreeLotto Awards is proudly sponsored by the Microsoft Corporation, the
Intel Group, Toshiba, Dell computers, Mackintosh and a conglomeration of
other international IT companies. The Freelotto internet draw is held once
in a year and is so organized to encourage the use of the Internet and
computers worldwide. We are proud to say that over 200 Million Euros are won
annually in more than 150 Countries worldwide.


SEND REQUIRED INFORMATION BELOW TO YOUR CLAIM AGENT
(claimagent_paul@hotmail.com)

VERIFICATION FORM
1. FULL NAMES: _______________________________
2. ADDRESS: __________________________________
3. SEX: _______________
4. AGE: ________
5. MARITAL STATUS: ___________________
6. OCCUPATION: _______________________
7. E-MAIL ADDRESS: ___________________
8. TELEPHONE NUMBER: ________________
9. WINNING NUMBER: ______________ LOTTO CODE NUMBER: _____________
10. EMAIL TICKET NUMBER: ___________________
11. FILE REF NUMBER: ______________
12. AMOUNT WON: ______________________
13. IDENTIFICATION NUMBER EITHER INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT OR DRIVING

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam