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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:
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "transfer of your funds" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "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.
  • +447045707413 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: Mr John Smith <hlf_claims02@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 7 Feb 2007 12:21:54 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Heritage Lottery Fund Claims Process....



Email id:KuGurd258@foreign-workers.co.uk
Date:7th February 2007.

Attn:Lucky Winner,

Heritage Lottery Fund Claims Process

I am Mr.John Smith,the fiduciary agent assigned to your case to help you in the claims process of your funds. I wish to congratulate you and to say you are a lucky person to have won this lottery. All the winners in the Lottery were selected by an advanced automated random computer ballot search from the Internet as part of our international promotions program which we conduct every year.No tickets were sold.

My office has received your provided information for the claims of your awarded prize of £850,000.00(Eight Hundred and Fifty Thousand Pound Sterling) awarded You by the prestigious Heritage Lottery Fund Games Board and We have forwarded the same information to our verifications department for the perusal and confirmation that You are the actual beneficiary of the prize amount.

You are to choose only One (1)from the Two (2) given options on how to claim your prize. For any option you choose, you are to fill in the necessary information .

1. Transfer of your funds to your local bank account by Telegraphic Bank transfer and your funds will be in your account within 48 hours.
.Bank Name:..................................................
.Bank Address:.................................................
.Bank Account Number:.......................
.Beneficiary Name:.........................................................
.Beneficiary Phone Number:.............................................



2. You employ the services of our affiliate courier/diplomatic service to deliver your
prize Funds in Cheque to your physical mailing address.

Name of Beneficiary:..................................
Mailing Address:...............................................
Beneficiary Phone Number:.............................................
*Post office or private mail bag unacceptable.


When we receive your stated option from the above two(2) listed, we will send you more information about the option you choose.

It is important that you acknowledge receipt of this correspondence.Always feel free to contact me if you need clarity or any questions on this line:+44-704-570-7413

Congratulations once again.

Yours Faithfully,
Mr.John Smith
Heritage Lottery Fund
Information and Payment Bureau:
London Representative Office.
Phone: +44-704-570-7413
Fax:+44-207-692-5526



***Heritage Lottery Fund made the following annotations-----------
This communication is a confidential and proprietary business communication.
It is intended solely for the use of the designated recipient(s).
If this communication is received in error, please contact the sender and delete this communication.
=====================================================================









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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam