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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!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• 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.

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:
  • "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. )
• 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.
  • +447045705609 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +448704793702 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: Garry Butler <info_mswpaymentcenter@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 30 May 2007 19:21:46 +0100 (BST)
Subject: ATTENTION: CLEARANCE AND VERIFICATION FRORM.............




This is a Registered E-mail&reg; message from Garry Butler.

---------------------------------


ATTENTION: Mr Jaegmann,

Congratulations once again from all the staff here. All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from over 20,000 company and 30,000,000 individual email addresses and names from all over the world. In order to verify your winnings, we need your particulars for record purposes, Attached here is a copy of our verifications form, please fill accordingly so as to proceed with your winnings. Once again congratulations from all the staff.
VERIFICATION AND CLEARANCE FORM
1. FULL NAMES:
COMPANY NAME (AS APPLICABLE):
2.ADDRESS:
3.SEX:
4.AGE:
5.MARITAL STATUS :
6.OCCUPATION
7.E-MAIL ADDRESS:
8.TELEPHONE NUMBER(S):

9.FAX:
10.DATE OF BIRTH:
11. BATCH NUMBER
12.REF NUMBER:
13.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF COMPANY/INDIVIDUAL:

14. AMOUNT WON:
15. COUNTRY:
16. PRIZE WINNING DETAILS (TICKET NO.):
17.SERIAL NO.:

PAYMENT OPTIONS:
1) BANK TO BANK WIRE TRANSFER.
2) CERTIFIED CHEQUE MADE OUT IN YOUR NAME COURIERED TO YOU VIA OUR AFFILIATE COURIER COMPANY AND WILL BE DELIVERED TO YOUR ADDRESS.
3)RECIEVEING YOUR PRIZE MONEY PERSONALLY.
NOTE: PLEASE INDICATE OPTION THAT BEST SUITS YOU.
Upon receipt of the duly requested data, I will send you the contact information of the payments office so you can proceed with effecting the release of your claim in anyway you deem fit.
NOTE: THIS VERIFICATION FORM SHOULD BE COMPLETELY FILLED OUT AND E- MAILED BACK TO ME WITHIN 42HOURS OF RECEIPT OF THIS FORM.
Warm Regards,
Garry Butler
PHONE: +44 704 570 5609
FAX: +44 870 479 3702




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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam