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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:
  • "processing fee" (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.
  • +447011132561 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +448712435310 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • freelotto_london@kaixo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Carl Allison Allison" <freelottopayoffice@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 17 Jan 2007 11:38:07 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: RE-ANNUAL AWARD WINNER: CLAIM PAYMENT


ANNUAL AWARD WINNER

www.freelotto.com ®

DEAR AWARD WINNER:
(I) Winning numbers: 37-13-43-85-67-11
(ii) The file Ref number: FL/04/736207152/UK

PLEASE BE INFORMED THAT WE RECEIVED AND ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR CLAIM OF THE SUM OF ONE MILLION POUNDS (£1,000 000.00 GBP). YOU ARE HEREBY DIRECTED TO FORWARD THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION TO FACILITATE THE PAYMENT OF YOUR FUNDS:

1. SCAN COPY OF RECEIT OF PAYMENT OF YOUR HANDLING/ PROCESSING FEE
2. ATTACH SCAN COPY OF ID OR INT' PASSPORT OR DRIVER’S LISENCE.
3. FULL NAMES, RESIDENT ADDRESS, TELEPHONE NUMBER AND FAX.
4. ACCOUNT DETAIL OR RESIDENT ADDRESSES WHERE YOU WANT YOUR PRIZE PAID OR TRANSFERED.


FEE OF 595 GBP MUST BE PAID UPFRONT TO ENABLE THE PROCESSING OF YOUR PAYMENT. OUR REGULATION DOES NOT MAKE ROOM FOR DEDUCTION. YOUR PRIZE HAVE BEEN INSURED TO THE REAL VALUE OF £1,000 000.00 GBP AND NO DEDUCTION CAN BE DONE. WE HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND AND COOPERATE ACCORDINGLY. PAYMENT INSTRUCTION WILL BE PROVIDED AS SOON AS YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THIS MAIL ALONG WITH YOUR MEANS OF IDENTIFICATION AND PERSONAL DETAILS.

ALL PAYMENTS ARE DULY GUARANTEED AND WE ARE POISED TO ENSURE CUSTOMERS SACTISFACTION.

COPIES OF TRANSFER RECEIT OF PAYMENT OF FEE SHOULD BE SENT TO US VIA EMAIL AS ATTACHMENT OR FAX FOR RECORDS AND REFERENCE PURPOSE. NOTE THAT YOUR FUNDS WILL BE TRANSFERED WITHIN 48 HOURS AFTER CONFIRMATION OF PAYMENT OF YOUR PROCESS/HANDLING FEE.

PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU HAVE LIMITED TIME TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE AFTER WHICH ALL FUNDS WILL BE RETURNED AS UNCLAIMED. WINNERS ARE ADVISED TO KEEP THEIR AWARD CONFIDENTIAL UNTIL PRIZE IS PAID TO AVERT INCIDENCE OF IMPERSONATION BY UNSCRUPULOUS ELEMENTS. OUR FAX, AND TELEPHONE LINE IS OPEN TWENTY FOUR HOURS EVERY DAY. THANK YOU. WE HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON. CONGRATULATIONS!!!

MR. CARL ALLISON
CHIEF FINANCIAL DIRECTOR
THE FREELOTTO ® COMPANY
FAX: +44 8712435310
FAX: +44 871264 2288
TEL: +44 7011132561
TEL: +44 7045700837
freelotto_london@kaixo.com

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The FreeLotto ® Awards is proudly sponsored by a conglomerate of international IT companies. The freelotto ® Internet draw is held once in a year and is so organized to encourage the use of the Internet and computers worldwide. We are proud to say that over 200 Million Euros are won annually in more than 150 countries worldwide.
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We also encourage you to visit our website at www.freelotto.com ® and take your chance to play and become part of our daily winners. Millions are won on a daily basis on one of the world's most famous free lotto service.




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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam