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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:
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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:
  • "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "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: David Oliver <contactdavidoliver@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: contact_davidoliver@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Sun, 22 Apr 2007 23:17:10 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Dear Winner


UK LOTTERY PAYMENT CENTRE
GOVERNMENT ACCREDITED LICENSED!!!
BRITISH ONLINE INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY
IS REGISTERED UNDER THE DATA PROTECTION ACT OF ;( Registration Z720633X).

UK Lottery Headquarters:
Customer Service
25 TANFIELD ROAD,
CROYDON.LONDON
Ref: BTL/491OXI/04
Batch: 12/25/0304

Dear Winner,

Compliments of the day to you.
The original copy of this certificate, together with a covering document (Money Laundering protection and Letter of Affidavit for Claims) from the British government stating that the money was obtained legally through their National Lotto along side with your cheque will be sent to you.

You are to choose your payment option on how you want to receive your funds from the options provided below and send us your receiving information’s.

Option 1: IF YOU PREFER COURIER TRANSFER BY CHEQUE Courier of your winning draft to you via ROYAL MAIL Delivery Services.


Option 2: BANK TRANSFER.
The said amount claims 450,000 GBP. (will be wired to your bank account via swift online bank transfer within 12hrs.
Congratulations once again.

Your are to send the below information required for you claims proccess.

CLAIMS REQUIREMENT.
1.Full Names:
2.Address:
3.Age:
4.Sex:
5.Marital Status:
6.Occupation:
7.Phone and fax numbers :
8.country:

Please send your response within the next 24hrs to this same.

Regards,
DISPATCH OFFICER IN CHARGE OF CLAIMS.
UK PAYMENT CENTRE.
Micheal Raymond



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam