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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!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• 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:
  • "bank charges " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
• 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.
  • +447011121567 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +448704799691 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr James Gibson" <james.gibson@ukfreelottosweepstakes.com>
Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2006 12:51:05 +0100
Subject: ATTN:Shannon Holman ,FROM FREE LOTTO SWEEPSTAKES

FREE LOTTO SWEEPSTAKES CLAIMS AND RELEASE DEPARTMENT.
GOVERNMENT ACCREDITED LICENSED!!!
BRITISH(UK) NATIONAL ONLINE INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY
IS REGISTERED UNDER THE DATA PROTECTION ACT OF;
(Registration Z720633X).

FROM: Mr James Gibson,

SUBJECT: VALIDATION AND FUNDS APPROVAL,

ATTN: Shannon Holman,

Congratulations our proud winner.This is to inform you that your claims processing form,which you duly completed and return back to us,has being duly processed and verified,and subsequently we find you worthy of the said amount,£500,000.00GBP(Five Hundred Thousand, Pounds Sterlings)].

PAYMENT MODE.

In line with the governing rules of claim, you are to indicate which of the payment mode indicated below will be most suitable for you.

1. BY CHEQUE/CHECK.

With these mode of payment a certified cheque/check will be authorized,signed and issued to you in your name,and will be delivered to you via our affiliated dispatch company,which you will be required to cash in your country.Your certified cheque/check will be fully insured,before posting to your resident! ial addr ess,which you have provided.You will be responsible for the delivery of the cheque/check to your address.

2.BANK TRANSFER.

With these option of payment,your funds will be transferred to you from our paying bank ( HALIFAX BANK ),here in United Kingdom to your account in your country,as you will advice.The Bank Charges will be paid by you.

 

3.SELF CLAIM  

 

You are scheduled to be at the OFFSHORE of the FREE LOTTO

SWEEPSTAKES Secretariat in Maldrid,Spain, or our headquarters in the UNITED KINGDOM for this exercise on or before 31ST October,2006. You are advised to come with the following:-

  

1. International passport for signature verification
2. 2 passport photographs
3. Your first email notification

  


WARNING NOTICE:

1.Most importantly you will be mandated to receive your winning as you have indicated,alteration will not be allowed.

2.No form of deduction will be allowed.Your money/winning will be paid in full(completely).
3.You are advice to adhere strictly to all the payout instruction,otherwise payment will be declined.

4.You will be disqualified if any one whatsoever provide us with the same winning informations.

In receipt of the required information,We will proceed with further directives in order to facilitate payment.

Please note,We are working in line with the British Gaming Regulations and policies,whose policies must not be violated.

Importantly, we hereby say congratulations to you once more.

We will await your mail and information on mode of payment urgently.


Yours Sincerely,
Mr James Gibson
Foreign Services Manager,
Claims Release Department,
Free Lotto Sweepstakes,
+44-701-1121567

FAX:+44-870-479-9691

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