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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:
  • "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)
• 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.
  • +447031942775 (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.
  • andersfrk@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: "frank andersfrk" <britishlotte@msn.com>
Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2005 12:01:07 +0000
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS

The National Lottery

PO Box 1010

Liverpool

L70 1NL

United Kingdom.

Ref: LSUK/2031/7168/67

Batch: R3/A377-69

WINNING   NOTIFICATION:

We happily announce to you the draw (#1014) of the

UK NATIONAL

LOTTERY, online Sweepstakes International Program

held on sat 22 oct, 2005.Your e-mail address

attached to ticket number: 56475600949199 with

Serial number 5677/78 Drew the lucky

numbers:18,20,22,30,32,39,and a bonus ball of 03 which

won the jackpot prize. You have therefore been

approved to claim a total sum of  £1,831,492(1million,

eighthundred and thirtyone thousand,fourhundred and nintytwo pounds

sterling) in cash credited to file U/023029908/07.                        

  All participants for the online version wereselected

Randomly from the World Wide Web through a

computer draw system and extracted from over 100,000

unions, associations, and Corporate bodies that are

listed online. This promotion Takes

placeweekly.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

Â2,118,518 would be released to you by our payment

Officer.

To file for your claim, Please contact

our fiduciary agent:

MR. FRANK ANDERSON

Email:andersfrk@yahoo.co.uk

TEL/Fax: +44-703-194-2775

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. Draw Number above:

That way you’re 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.

You can go to our online result site to confirm the

value of You Winnings And also get a prize breakdown

Good luck from me and members of staff of the U.K

NATIONAL LOTTERY.

Yours faithfully,

Online Co-coordinator for U.K

www.national-lottery.co.uk/player/p/home/home.do

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam