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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
  • "sent to you via courier service" (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.
  • +447040118776 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: LINK LINK TRUST FINANCE UK <ltfanauk@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 13 Dec 2006 20:38:18 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Attention: Claudelle Tromm


LINK TRUST FINANCE LTD.
APPROVED AGENT FOR PREMIER LOTTERY UK
TRINITY ROAD HALIFAX
WEST YORKSHIRE HXI 2RD.




Date:13/12/2006

Dear Prize Winner,

PREMIER LOTTERY UK conducted its final draws participants were selected through a Computer ballot system drawn from Lucky winners were selected at random via a computer ballot system drawn from 2,500,000 email addresses of individuals and Corporate bodies from Africa, America, Asia, Australia, Europe, Middle East, and Oceania. You emerged as one of the grand draw prize in the Category A and are there for entitled to a sum of £6,500,000.00 (Six million five hundred thousand Great Britain pounds only).

Note that the Category A draws under which you won is a free promotional draw; hence you do not have to purchase tickets to participate. Names and email addresses of individuals and companies are selected from various lottery companies email database from around the world and entered into the draw. This draw is being organized because PREMIER Lottery UK intend on opening offices spread around the world in the near future, hence they want to promote the company name to enhance ticket sales immediately their new offices are opened. Note that the Category A draws is funded from the proceeds of ticket sales in the First and Second category draw also organized by PREMIER LOTTERY UK.

My company, LINK TRUST FINANCE COMPANY UK. is, upon agreements with PREMIER LOTTERY UK to handle all transfer matters between PREMIER LOTTERY UK, and you the winner. We shall commence the transfer of your prize winning accordingly upon meeting of our requirements.

I believe the situation is clear to you now

You are immediately required to fill a "Lottery Claims Questionnaire with all necessary details and send back to me.

LINK TRUST FINANCE LTD.
APPROVED AGENT FOR PREMIER LOTTERY UK
TRINITY ROAD HALIFAX
WEST YORKSHIRE HXI 2RD.

Your Ref:.../
Date:
LOTTERY CLAIMS QUESTIONNAIRE
PERSONAL DETAILS
Beneficiary:
User name:
Identification No:
Occupation :
Address:
sex:
Age:
Amount (winning sum):
Ref-number:
Telephone:
Fax:
E-mail:
______________________________________________
BANK DETAILS
Bank Name:
Bank Address:
Account Number:
Swift Code:
______________________________________________
WINNING DATA
Ticket No:
Ref No:
______________________________________________
MODE OF PAYMENT
Certified Cheque:
Wire Transfer:
______________________________________________
Signature of applicant:

kindly fill the above questionaire and send back to us either as an email attachment.

A certificate of prize claim along side other vital documents will be sent to you via Courier service immediately transfer of your winnings is effected. As soon as your form is submitted and verified we shall be sending you, a scanned copy of your prize claims certificate. This is in line with the lotto companies policies and regulations.

Congratulations once more,

I shall be awaiting your filled Lottery Winnings Claims Form.

Truly yours,
MRS. Susan Edwards
FINANCIAL DIRECTOR
LINK FINANCE LTD
TEL: + 44 704 011 8776
44 703 181 7982
44 703 181 7712
FAX: + 44 870 974 2276


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam