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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
  • "deadline" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
• 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.
  • 00447024094058

Fraud email example:

From: "MR.BRIAN LEONARD GOODWIN" <briangoodwinclaimagent@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sun, 15 Apr 2007 23:23:16 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Claim Processing Form


UNITED KINGDOM LOTTERY,
INTERNATIONAL PRIZE AWARD DEPT.
London,
United Kingdom.

Dear Philippine Roth,

We wish to congratulate you and formally inform you that you have won the sum of 1,500,000.00 (One Million Five Hundred Thousand British Pounds Sterling) in the last email-lottery draw, organized by United Kingdom Lottery Promotion. We have confirmed the above winning.

The said sum is now deposited in our suspense account in your favor waiting for the immediate remittance to you. Be informed that your winning prize has a hardcover insurance policy that makes it impossible to make any deduction of any kind, until the sum is finally credited into your designated account.

This firm on behalf of United Kingdom Lottery Promotion will issue an
Irrevocable Guarantee of Payment Bond (IGPB) in your favor, thereby
securing the above prize money. A copy of the IGPB will be forwarded to our
paying bank for immediate action. However, our client (United
Kingdom Lottery Promotion) has been notified of this development and the status of your claim.

Following the above, you are expected to fill the attached form and return back to this office along with a copy of your international passport or driver's license via email attachment for vetting process which is a standard practice just to
ensure that we are dealing with the right individual.

This process is vital and urgent following the instruction from our clients
that all prize money should be claimed on or before the DEADLINE on your notice.

Once again accept our congratulations and we look forward to hearing from you soon.

Regards,
Brian Goodwin
Tel: 0044-7024094058
Fax: 0044-2070600513
N: B: Attached is the claim processing form.

THE BENEFICIARY OF THE FUNDS SHOULD COMPLETE THE CLAIMS FORM.

1. FULL NAMES OF BENEFICIARY:__________________________________

2.NATIONALITY:_______________________CITY______________

3. DATE OF BIRTH_________________________________________________

4.SEX:_____________________NEXT OF KIN______

5. MARITAL STATUS:______________________________________________

6.CONTACT ADDRESS:__________________________________________

7.TELEPHONE NUMBER:___________________FAX____________________

8.OCCUPATION:________________________________________________

9.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF COMPANY/INDIVIDUAL:_________________

10.WINNING E-MAIL ADDRESS:____________________________________

11.REFERENCE NO:____________________LUCKY NO:_________________

12. TOTAL AMOUNT WON:_________________________________________

13. PLEASE SELECT PREFERRED MODE OF PAYMENT FROM BELOW: _____

(A) CASHIER'S CHEQUE:

(B) TELEGRAPHIC TRANSFER:

(C)PICK UP PERSONALLY HERE IN LONDON UK:

NOTE (BENEFICIARIES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR TRANSFER CHARGES)

DECLARATION

I......................................... HEREBY DECLARE THAT THE ABOVE DATA ARE TRUE, AND IN CASE OF ANY UNFORSEEN CIRCUMSTANCES, MY NEXT OF KIN HAS THE RIGHT TO CLAIM MY TOTAL WINNINGS


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam