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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
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• 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")
  • "fudiciary" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "cashiers check" (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!

Fraud email example:

From: kelvin king <irishlotto_kelvinking@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 16 Mar 2006 09:56:58 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: CLAIM VERIFICATION AND FUND RELEASE FORM


IRISH WEB INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY,
ONLINE FUDICIARY AGENT.
Ref No: LSUK/2031/8161/05
Batch No: R3/A312-59


Phone: +44703184668
Fax: +447005803054

Dear Winner,
Your email has been received. For the avoidance of doubt your email address was gotten from one of our affiliate websites that you visited and it emerged as one of lucky winners. We the entire staff of IRISH WEB INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY congratulate you once again for being one of our lucky winners in this year lottery promotion stake. Information’s concerning your winning has been taken to the verification department. You are expected to process your claim, it is optional in our constitution that we are not allowed to deduct or remove any amount of money from the prizes won by our clients either for charges, taxes or other expenses which are needed for the processing and transfer of our clients funds. Please attached here is the claim verification and funds release form. You are expected to fill and submit it back to the fiduciary agent in the claims department immediately via email. Once again congratulations!

This form is valid for only those who have won the IRISH WEB INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY. Fill in the required fields in the space provided below. No field should be left blank, because your particulars are needed for the process of your claim and record purpose.

CLAIM VERIFICATION AND FUND RELEASE FORM


1.FULL NAMES:__________________________________

2.ADDRESS:_____________________________________________

____________________________________________

3.SEX:_______________

4.AGE:________

5.MARITAL STATUS:___________________

6.OCCUPATION:________________________

7.E-MAIL ADDRESS:_____________________________

8.TELEPHONE NUMBER:_____________________

9.INDICATE PREFERRED MODE OF PRIZE COLLECTION:(A) CHECK (B) DRAFT (C) CASHIERS CHECK BROUGHT TO YOU BY COURIER.

10.FILE NUMBER: ____________________ B. DRAW NUMBER: ______________

11.TICKET NUMBER: ___________________

12.SERIAL NUMBER: __________________

13.REFERENCE NUMBER: ________________

14.BATCH NUMBER: ____________________

15.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF COMPANY/INDIVIDUAL___________

16.AMOUNT WON:___________________________________

___________________________________________

17. STATE:__________________________________

18. COUNTRY________________________________

Upon receipt of your dully-filled claim verification form, I will send you the contact information of the payment office so you can proceed with effecting the release of your claim in anyway you deem fit.

Warm Regards,

Agent Kelvin King (Mr.)

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam