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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• 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:
  • "sent to you via courier service" (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "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.
  • +447024021732 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +448712535849 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Bryan Wood" <bryan_w03@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2006 01:27:05 +0100 (BST)
Subject: CLAIMS FORM - E (LOTTERY)


DEAR WINNER,

WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE RECEIPT OF YOUR MAIL, AS REGARDS CLAIMING YOUR WINNING PRIZE. WITH REFERENCE NUMBER: FL/04/736207152/UK. BE INFORMED THAT WE HAVE IN OUR POSSESSION INSTRUMENTS OF PAYMENT FOR THE SUM OF 1,500,000.00 POUNDS STERLINGS(ONE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND POUNDS STERLINGS) TO YOU.
PLEASE FILL WHERE APPLICABLE AND RETURN TO US IMMEDIATELY FOR VERIFICATION.YOU CAN SEND YOUR COMPLETED FORM THROUGH MAIL TO ME, OR THROUGH MY DIRECT FAX NUMBER.
A SWIFT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE RECEIPT OF THIS MAIL WILL BE APPRECIATED. FOR FURTHER CLARIFICATION, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME.
Completely fill out the Claim Form - E provided herein and submit a completed filled form via email or fax to us. Confirm Your winning information as provided by free lotto company.
##########################################################################################
CLAIMS FORM - E (Receipt Official Notification Letter)
FILE REF FL/04/736207152/UK
##########################################################################################
[FULL NAME OF
WINNER].....................................................................................
............
[RESIDENT
ADDRESS]....................................................................................
................
[COUNTRY/ REGION].......................................
[STATE]......................................
[DATE OF BIRTH]...../...../......... [SEX]..........
[OCCUPATION].................................
[CURRENT EMAIL]............................................
[TEL/FAX]...................................
##########################################################################################
WINNING INFORMATION
##########################################################################################
[EMAIL TICKET NR].......................... [LOTTERY REF NR]................
[DATE]...............
==========================================================================================
CLAIMANT SIGNATORY DECLARATION
I ..................................... Declare as the lotto prize winner that all
information I have provided for my winning claims are true and correct information of
myself. I agree with the FREELOTTO GROUP INTERNATIONAL lottery policy and regulation in line with my lottery claims.
===========================================================================================
Please indicate “X” for the option you want your prize remitted to you. Listed below is our payment modalities and option of payment.
(1) TRAVELLING TO THE UK FOR PRIZE COLLECTION: […………]
(2) BY ISSUANCE OF A CERTIFIED CHEQUE IN YOUR NAME AND COURIERED TO YOUR ADDRESS: […………]
(3)WIRED TRANSFER[.........]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(ALL INFORMATION PROVIDED WILL BE USED FOR OFFICIAL ONLY PURPOSE NOT FOR PUBLIC CONSUMPTION)
You are advised to forward this information as soon aspossible to enable us attend to your winnings. Pleasenote that your payment would be handed over to our sponsoring Courier Service and your information will beforwarded to them they would be in charge of sending your winnings. Our firm has been contracted to handle payments on your behalf,once we confirm your information, your payments would be processed andforwarded to the sponsoring Courier Service who would inturn open communication with you, if you wantyou can be invited to come and sign for your funds.Everything was done in such a way that our payments mode would meet the standards set by the Lotteryboards. We have also gone as far as to invite an accounting firm to over see the payments process.After you have sent down this information,
acertificate will be prepared for you. This is to beyour proof of winning from this office
to the paymentcenter before they release your funds. You are advised to keep your winning numbers secret to avoidunscrupulous elements from taking advantage of the situation.
CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN!!
TRULY YOURS,
BRYAN WOOD
FINANCIAL DIRECTOR
PRINCIPAL CONSULT.
DIRECT TEL:+44-702-402-1732
DIRECT FAX:+44-700-580-7263

NOTE THE FOLLOWING BELOW:
THAT PAYMENT WOULD BE MADE BY YOU TO COVER PROCESSING, COURIER DELIVERY OF YOUR PRIZE CHEQUE,INSURANCE OF VITAL DOCUMENTS LIKE PRIZE CLAIMS CERTIFICATE VIA COURIER SERVICE HANDLING AND THAT YOUR TOTAL PRIZE CLAIM OF GBP1,500,000 , HAS BEEN INSURED TO THE REAL VALUE AND AS SUCH CANNOT BE DEDUCTED FROM. THIS IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 44 SUBSECTIONS 144 OF THE UK LOTTERY COMMISSIONS GAMING REGULATIONS AS AMENDED IN THE 1996 CONSTITUTION. THIS IS TO PROTECT CLIENTS (WINNERS) AND TO AVOID MISAPPROPRIATION OF FUNDS.
A CERTIFICATE OF PRIZE CLAIM AND SOME VITAL DOCUMENT WILL BE SENT TO YOU VIA COURIER SERVICE AS WELLTHE OFFICER IN CHARGE WOULD COMPUTE YOUR PROCESSING AND DELIVERY SERVICES CHARGE AND CONTACT YOU ONCE IT IS DONE.
UPON WHEN THE ABOVE IS EFFECTED. THAT THE COURIER DELIVERY OF YOUR PRIZE CHEQUE WITHIN 24HRS AFTER THE RECEIPT OF ALL THE REQUIREMENTS.



Mr. Bryan Wood
TEL:+44-121-618-7168
FAX:+44-871-253-5849



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam