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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
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• 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:
  • "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. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. )
• 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!

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr Walter Grant." <mrwaltergrant@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2007 17:16:57 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Funds Release Option (Choose One)





Dear: Francisca Oly-Carnas,


Congratulations from all the staff here in the British lottery department,you have been granted clarification as a winner of the BRITISH LOTTERY.

For the avoidance of doubt,:

Your e-mail address was attached to ticket number: 56475600545 188 with Serial number 5388/02 drew the lucky numbers:31-6-26-13-35-7 , which subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category i.e match 5 plus bonus. All participants (email addresses) for the online version of the national lottery,were selected randomly from World Wide Web sites through computer draw system and extracted from over 100,000 unions, associations,address database and corporate bodies that are listed online.

I hereby inform you that we have received the required information,and the services of a Certified Notary Public has been engaged to handle the Notarisation of your Papers/document.
Your claims requirement has been transferred to the Lottery Claims and Verifications Department(LCVD).Haven perused your data and carefully investigating the content of the claims required,you were approved for immediate funds transfer:
your details:

Ref: BTL/491OXI/04
Batch: 12/25/0304 .
Your name:Francisca Oly-Carnas

Below are the possible funds transfer methods available.You are to carefully study them and get back to me at the earliest possible time with the option that best suits you to enable the board expedite upon your funds release.

1.You can come in person to our cash point here in the United Kingdom to pick up your funds and sign the relevant documents.You will be required to produce a valid International passport or a drivers' license.This will act as an identification.(Note that this option is only applicable to United Kingdom citizens/Inhabitants).

2.Telegraphic Transfer Option:

In this option we can have your funds successfully transfer to your chosen bank account.You will be required to provide us with your bank account coordinates(Bank Name,address,account number,sorting/routing codes).Also this will take a maximum duration of 48hrs to be fully effected.

3.Courier Delivery Option:

Lastly,we can have your funds drawn in a certified cheque and delivered to your residence/address by our delivery affiliate.This option you will be required to provide us with your detailed residential address and it will take a duration of 24hrs to have your cheque and winning certificate ready to be delivered to you.

NOTE:

If you choose either option 2 or 3,you will be solely responsible for the charges due.
Your funds have already been insured and no deductions can be made from them to satisfy the cost of the charges due upon your funds transfer.You are solely responsible for the charges due to security reasons.

We await your prompt response.






Congratulations once again!!

Walter Grant(Mr).











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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam