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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "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. )
  • "cheques " (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!
• 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.
  • +447983908625

Fraud email example:

From: steve forth <steveforth1@yahoo.ie>
Date: Tue, 22 May 2007 08:42:07 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: FILL THE VERIFICATION FORM AND SEND IT BACK via eMAIL

Attention Winner,
I received your mail and have been informed that you are one of the winners of our FREE LOTTERY PROMOTION. INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPT. You are to provide the following information to facilitate your claim:
1. A duly completed Prize Award Verification & Payment Form to enable this office verifiy, process, approve and have your cheque and winning Certificate couriered to you by postal mail.
2. Your prefered mode of payment.
The requested information will enable us verify and refer you to our affiliated courier company,On receipt of your duly completed Prize Award Verification Form, I'll then email you the contact details of our affiliate courier company/Bank Transfer, so that your winning Certificate and Cheques can be sent to you by postal mail/Bank Transfer.
I strongly advise you to adhere and comply to the instructions above in order to avoid disqualification of your claim.
Note that it is against the policies of this program for any staff of this program to involve in any matter relating to our client's claim. So you are advised not to suggest any kind of involvement to any of our staffs that may attract dis-qualification of our prize claim.
The attached Prize Award Verification & Payment Form Draft is below which you will fill out and return by email to this office.For further explaination call me on +447983908625
Once again, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
Yours faithfully,
Mr Steve Forth.
CUSTOMER SERVICE
fREE LOTTERY PROMOTION INTERNATIONAL
PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPT
Address: 74 CRANBOUNE ROAD
LONDON,UNITED KINGDOM
PHONE: +447983908625
FAX : 0044-871-5215-815
PRIZE AWARD VERIFICATION FORM
PERSONAL DETAILS:
NAME(MR.MRS.MS.):....................................................................
COMPANY NAME: (IF APPLICABLE)........................................................
ADDRESS:.............................................................................
CITY:................................................................................
ZIP CODE:............................................................................
TEL:.................................................................................
FAX:...........................?....................................................
HOME TEL:.....?.....................................................................
EMAIL ADDRESS:...................?..................................................
OCCUPATION:...............................?.........................................
MARITAL STATUS:............................................?........................
DATE OF BIRTH:.......................................................................
PRIZE WINNINGDETAILS:
TICKET#:.............................................................................
NAME OF AGENT#:......................................................................
PAYMENT OPTIONS (CHOOSE AND TICK ONE OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS BELOW:
1. BANK TRANSFER:.............................
2. COURIER SERVICES:..........................
POSTAL MAILING ADDRESS:(WHERE THE CHEQUE AND PRIZE WINNING CERTIFICATE WILL BE COURIERED TO):..........................................................................
NAME OF RECEIVER:....................................................................
DECLARATION:I,...............................................................HEREBY DECLARE THAT I HAVE NEVER RECIEVED ANY SETTLEMENT FROM FREE LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION NOR ANY MEMBER OF MY FAMILY FILLED CLAIM ON MY BEHALF TO FREE LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION. I, THEREFORE AUTHORIZE, FREE LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION TO ACT ON MY BEHALF IN THE PROCESSING AND SEND MY PRIZE AS INSTRUCTED BY ME.
SIGNATURE(TYPE IN YOUR NAMES):.......................................................
DATE:....................?.....
NOTE: THIS VERIFICATION FORM SHOULD BE COMPLETELY FILLED OUT AND RETURN WITHIN 48HOURS OF RECEIPT OF THIS FORM.

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam