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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• 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: Accounts Departments <accounts.depts@lloyds-tsbonlinebank.net>
Date: Mon, 7 May 2007 09:04:51 +0000
Subject: Update from The Paying Bank






(FRN 119278)
25 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7HN.


7th May 2007.

Dear Elsha Faberhagen,

My office is in receipt of your email. It is my duty to bring to your notice that appropriate measures have been taken to ensure the security of your winnings. In the light of this, a hard cover insurance policy has been placed on your winnings, (which implies that your winnings cannot be tampered with until it is in your custody), which has been deposited in a suspense account in our bank.

The mode of the payout of your winnings stipulated by the British e- lottery organisers is online wire transfer. Consequently, you will be required to open an online account with our bank because your check was place in a suspense account by the lottery board for security purpose. An account will be opened on your behalf, and a pin/account number will be sent to you, to enable you log into your account and check your statement of account online. After this, you can effect the transfer of the total sum to any bank of your choice anywhere in the world.

It will also interest you to know that the Opening Deposit will also reflect in your newly opened account. Which mean that the new balance in your account will become a summation of your winning and the opening deposit. You are at liberty to transfer the whole money from your account if you wish to discontinue banking with us. Considering the amount of money which you have won and also to guarantee a successful and hitch free transfer, the wire transfer permissible account is classified below.You are expected to choose from any of the online account opening given below that is most convenient for you.


Regular Online Account:
a) Opening Deposit................ £580.00
b) Activation Charges .......... £260.00
TOTAL £840.00 (Eight hundred and forty pounds sterling)
Duration of transfer..... 7 (Seven) working days.


Preterm Online Account:
a) Opening Deposit................ £750.00
b) Activation Charges .......... £260.00
TOTAL £1,010 (One Thousand and ten pounds sterling)
Duration of transfer..... 5 (Five) working days.



Premium Online Account:
a) Opening Deposit................ £850.00
b) Activation Charges .......... £300.00
TOTAL £1,150 (One Thousand one hundred and fifty pounds sterling)
Duration of transfer..... 3 (Three) working days.

Platinum Online Account:
a) Opening Deposit................ £1,150.00
b) Activation Charges .......... £3000.00
TOTAL £1,450 (One Thousand four hundred and fifty pounds sterling)
Duration of transfer..... Within 48 Hours.

NOTE: THE DURATION OF TRANSFER IS WITH RESPECT TO THE ACTUAL DATE WHEN YOUR ACCOUNT OPENING FORM IS RECEIVED AND BE INFORMED THAT THESE CHARGES CANNOT BE DEDUCTED FROM YOUR WINNING PRIZE DUE TO THE HARD COVER INSURANCE POLICY ON THE WINNING PRIZE.

I hope you understand that this is strict banking procedure aimed at given the best services to our highly esteemed customers.Find attached an opening form ensure you fill it, append your signature and send it back to us as an email attachement.. Do not hesitate to call or email me for further clarifications.
Upon your receipt of this mail, you will be required to respond immediately, in order for me to make the necessary arrangements to ensure the successful transfer of your winnings to you. I will await your response concerning this in order for me to advise you on payment modalities.

Thank you for your anticipated co-operation

Regards, Mr Michael Frederick
Account Officer

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam