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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
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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")
  • "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: fiduciary agent <fiduciary_lotteryclaimsagent31@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 4 May 2007 11:28:43 +0100 (BST)
Subject: CLAIMS VERIFICATION FORM


UK LOTTERY

CLAIMS VERIFICATION FORM

ATTENTION;WINNER.
Your mail has been received.
We the entire staff of UK LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL (sweepstake lottery/award promotion). Congratulate you for being one of our lucky winners in this year lottery promotion stake.
Thanks for your immediate response and information's concerning your winning has been taken to the verification department.
You are expected to process your claim, so that we can assist you in the processing of your claim to reduce the burden that you may encounter during this process, it is optional in the constitution of our company, we are not allowed to deduct or remove any amount of money from the prizes won by our clients either for charges,taxes/other expenses which are needed for the processing and transfer of our clients funds.
Please attached here is the claim Verification form, which you are expected to fill and submit back to your fiduciary agent immediately via e-mail.
Hope to have informed you correctly.
Best regards,
MR CHRISTOPHER THOMAS.
FIDUCIARY AGENT.

(Form HLP)
REFERENCE NUMBER: UK/9420X2/68
FULL NAME...............................................
COMPANY NAME: ........................................
FULL ADDRESS:...........................................
SEX:.................................
AGE...................................
OCCUPATION.............................
TELunlisted.....................FAX................. (If any)
COUNTRY...............................
E-MAIL.................................


HAVE YOU A PASSPORT OR LICENCE............(identification on delivery)

INDICATE PREFERRED MODE OF PRIZE COLLECTION:
(A) CHEQUE

(B) DRAFT
(BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF COMPANY/ INDIVIDUAL:
.................................................................
................................................................
................................................................
____________________________
Date. Signature


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam