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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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• 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:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "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.
  • +447040106246 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +448717224153 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Armstrong Forrester" <claimscustomercare@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 22 Dec 2006 15:12:42 +0000
Subject: Your winning (verification and claims)


Dear Alec Russell,



I acknowledge the receipt of your mail below containing the winning
information supplied. Please be informed that, we have confirmed your
winning anthenticity, the verification exercise is indeed successful, and
from all of us here we express our sincere congratulations and re affirm our
pledge to rendering to you our usual top class services. I am most obliged
to lend my services in the processing of your claims. I will be your direct
claims agent. I will be liaising with you until your prize is paid. My
immediate objective now is to provide guidance until you receive your prize
winnings. In this regard your unalloyed co-operation will be appreciated. It
is worthy to note first that all winnings in your category are promotional
lottery winnings only.

I have now made the application for the remittance of your claims as the high
point of your claims processing procedure. As a part of your claims process
procedure, your certificate of winning is being processed by this lottery
company now and would be delivered to me before the close of work tomorrow.
As soon as we have it, a scanned copy of this certificate would be forwarded
to you. The certificate signifies the approval of your application for your
prize remittance. Please do note that, this certificate is a very important
document, and I would advise that you keep it safe and private as
presentation does command attention, by this lottery company and all
regulating bodies. Note, also that it guarantees the payment of your prize.
It is also a legal instrument and can be tendered in a court of competent
jurisdiction as an important exhibit in the case of a default, which is very
unlikely. We risk severe sanction by the Gaming commission if after the
issuance of the certificate you are not paid.

Be informed that while the processing of your winning continues, it is
imperative that you commence preparations to present yourself here in our
office for the endorsement of your winning prize voucher/payment schedule
that is needed for the audits of the three regulating bodies including the
E.U.G.R.A. And presentation of the cheque by our President/CEO. The gala
event and prize presentation ceremony for all promotional winners have been
earmarked for between Wednesday 27th of December 2006 till Saturday
6thJanuary 2007.
Please endeavour to furnish us with your most convenient date to visit. Mind
you, you would be required to present a valid identification document,
before you would be allowed to sign for and collect the cheque, a travelling
passport will suffice.

In the meantime, you are required to fill the form below and forward it back
to me together with a copy of your VALID IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENT.

Congratulations once again.

Yours faithfully,

Armstrong Forrester,

66 Cannon Street,

London, EC4 N 5BN

U.K.

Tel: +44 704 010 6246

+44 704 010 6653

+44 702 407 4182

+44 702 407 4813

Fax: +44 871 722 4153

+44 871 722 0735





* * **

*CLAIMS APPLICATION FORM*

* TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY*

* *

*PERSONAL BIO DATA*

* *

* *

Please complete the personal data form below and return back via fax or
email attachment:



*FULL NAMES: …………………………………………………………………………………....*

* *

*COUNTRY: ………………………………………………………………….................................*

* *

*STATE/CITY/ZIP: ……………………………………………………………….........................*

* *

*POSTAL/STREET ADDRESS: ………………………………………………………………….*

* *

*……………………………………………………………………………………….........................*

* *

*DATE OF BIRTH:…….……………………… SEX:…………...……………………*

* *

*TELEPHONE:…………..…………………………. FAX #: ……………….......................*

* *

*MARITAL STATUS………………………………. OCCUPATION…………………………...*

* *

*WINNING PARTICULARS*

* *

(I) Reference number:
(ii) Batch number:
(iii) Your email address:

(iv) Ballot number:

(v) Serial number:

* *

* *

*UNITY LOTTERY INC. (r)*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam