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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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• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "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)
  • "cheques " (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.
  • +447040119396 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +448709121932 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: Uk Promotion london <claims_uk_promo@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: uk_promo_claims@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Tue, 20 Jun 2006 15:24:39 +0100 (BST)
Subject: PLEASE DO FILL THE FORM AND SEND BACK.


Attn:Dear Winner,

I received your mail and have been informed that you are one of the winners of our FREE LOTTERY PROMOTION INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPT.

You are to provide the following information to facilitate your claim:
1. A duly completed Prize Award Verification & Payment Form to enable this office verifiy, process,approve and have your cheque and winning Certificate couriered to you by postal mail.

2. Your prefered mode of payment. The requested information about you will enable us verify and refer you to our affiliate courrier company, so that your wining Certificate and Cheques can be sent to you by postal mail. On receipt of your duly completed Prize Award Verification Form, I'll then email you the contact details of our affiliate courier company, so that your winning Certificate and Cheques can be sent to you by postal mail.

I strongly advise you adhere and comply to the instructions above in order to avoid disqualification of your claim. Note that it is against the policies of this program for any staff of this program to involve in any matter relating to our client's claim. So you are advised not to suggest any kind of involvement to any of our staffs that may attract dis-qualification of our prize claim.

Find attached a Prize Award Verification & Payment Form Draft below which you will fill out and return by email to this office.For further explanation,you can reach me on +447040119396. Once again, CONGRATULATIONS.

Yours faithfully,

Graham Williams



CUSTOMER SERVICES
FREE LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION
PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPT
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM.
ADDRESS: 74 CRANBOUNE ROAD LONDON.
UNITED KINGDOM
PHONE:+447040119396
FAX : +448709121932
PRIZE AWARD VERIFICATION FORM
PERSONAL DETAILS:
NAME(MR.MRS.MS.):..............
COMPANY NAME: (IF
APPLICABLE).............
ADDRESS:..........
CITY:.............
STATE:...…..............
ZIP CODE:........
TEL:......................
FAX:.................
HOME TEL:.....….....
EMAIL:.........................
ADDRESS:...................….............
OCCUPATION:......................
MARITAL STATUS:................
DATE OF BIRTH:...........................
PRIZE WINNING DETAILS:
TICKET#: 77007742781005-18721 with reference number 414-3721060
NAME OF AGENT#:................
PAYMENT OPTIONS (CHOOSE AND TICK ONE OF THE FOLLOWING
OPTIONS BELOW:
CHEQUE...........................
PHYSICAL COLLECTION..............
POSTAL MAILING ADDRESS: (WHERE THE CHEQUE AND PRIZE
WINNING CERTIFICATE WILL BE COURIERED TO):
NAME OF RECEIVER:.................
DECLARATION:
I,................HEREBY
DECLARE THAT I HAVE NEVER RECIEVED ANY SETTLEMENT FROM
FREE LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION NOR ANY MEMBER OF
MY FAMILY FILLED CLAIM ON MY BEHALF TO FREE LOTTERY
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION. I, THEREFORE AUTHORIZE, FREE
LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION TO ACT ON MY BEHALF IN THE
PROCESSING AND SEND MY PRIZE AS INSTRUCTED BY ME.
SIGNATURE(TYPE IN YOUR
NAMES):.............................................
DATE:....................…......
NOTE: THIS VERIFICATION FORM SHOULD BE COMPLETELY
FILLED OUT AND RETURN WITHIN 72HOURS OF RECEIPT OF
THIS FORM.


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam