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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "courier service" (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. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• 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: "terry contti" <terry-cnt@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 13 Jun 2007 12:56:49 +0000
Subject: VERIFICATION FORM

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am the Fiduciary Agent assigned to your claims and I wish to congratulate
you on your winning. You are required to forward the following details to
help facilitate the processing of your claims thereby facilitating the
release of your winning funds.

1. Full names:
2. Residential address:
3. Phone number:
4. Fax number:
5. Occupation:
6. Sex:
7. Age:
8. Nationality:
9. Mode of Remittance (Check/Courier Service or Bank Transfer).

Details of item number nine (9) is given below and you are required to pick
an option inorder for us to know what means of remittance you will prefer.


NOTE:
1. Courier Service
We will be making contact with a bank in your country of residence and your
check is either mailed there or sent to you {in cheque form} and you are to
take it to the bank which we will assign to you in your country, please
immediately contact me when your cheque has been delivered to you so that I
can inform you on the assigned Bank that you are to deposit your check, it
normally takes between 2 to 7 days to have the check delivered depending on
its recipient and another 3 to 10 days to have the check cleared in your
country depending on your bank or clearing house.

2. Bank Transfer (Highly Recommended)
This process involves sending your winnings from our finance house here in
the United Kingdom directly to your bank through wire transfer and it
usually takes 24hrs to carryout this process and therefore you will receive
your winning funds within 24 hours, when you meet with the taxation
requirements of the British Government which will be stated to you by your
account officer that will be assigned to you and make you officially cleared
as non-resident winner, more informations will be given to you on this by
the Account Officer that will be assigned to you.


You are advised to forward the above needed information as soon as possible
to enable us attend to your file and informations sent will be kept securely
in our database of winners. On confirmation of the required information your
winnings will be processed. You are advised to keep your winning detail
personal to avoid unscrupulous person(s) from taking advantage of the
situation such as impersonation.


Once again, congratulations.

Regards,

Terry Contti
Fiduciary Agent

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam