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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")
• 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: Claims Department <claims@lotterydepartment.orangehome.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 12 Jul 2006 01:02:47 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: CLAIMS PROCESSING FORM





The National Lottery
PO Box 1010
Liverpool
L70 1NL
United Kingdom



ATTN: Winner,

I am in receipt of your recent email regarding the claim of the just concluded UK National Lottery Email Online Promotion.Your application for claim of lottery winning prize is under process and full settlement will be made upon certification of your details.

Be informed that we are in possession of your prize-winner certificate which will be sent to the financial institution to effect your payment when you have completed the form below and return it to us within 48 hrs of this email.

Hence, carefully fill in the appropriate information in the spaces provided in the Claim Form to facilitate our immediate processing of your prize claim. Your funds have since been deposited with a Finance Company in The United Kingdomfor settlement of your winning. Once we receive the requested information, your claims file will be sent to the Firm for your settlement. Please, you are advised to send along the filled form, a copy of your personal Identification preferably the photo page of your international passport or license for proper identification.

THE BENEFICIARY/OWNER OF THE WINNING EMAIL OF THE FUNDS SHOULD COMPLETE THIS CLAIMS FORM.

1.FULL NAMES OF BENEFICIARY:___________________
2.NATIONALITY/CITY:___________________________
3.DATE OF BIRTH:_______________________________
4.SEX:________________________________________
5. MARITAL STATUS:_____________________________
6.CONTACT ADDRESS:____________________________
7.TELEPHONE NUMBER/FAX:______________________
8.OCCUPATION:________________________________
9.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF COMPANY/INDIVIDUAL:_____
10.WINNING E-MAIL ADDRESS:____________________
11.TICKET NO/BATCH NO:________________________
12.TOTAL AMOUNT WON:_________________________
13. NEXT OF KIN:_________________________________________
14. PLEASE SELECT PREFERRED MODE OF PAYMENT FROM BELOW:
(A) CASHIER'S CHEQUE: ________________________________
(B) PICK UP PERSONALLY HERE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM:_____

DECLARATION
I (..........................................) HEREBY DECLARE THAT THE ABOVE DATA ARE TRUE, AND IN CASE OF ANY UNFORSEEN CIRCUMSTANCES, MY NEXT OF KIN HAS THE RIGHT TO CLAIM MY TOTAL WINNINGS.
N:B: You are advised to keep your winning strictly confidential until your winning is processed and received by you. This is to avoid double claiming which could lead to disqualification.

Accept our congratulations.

Sincerely,
Fiduciary Agent,
Mr. James Keegan.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam