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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) 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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "clearance document" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. )
  • "claims 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. 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!
• 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.
  • +447045705714 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • contactbarrypeterson@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Claims Agent Barry Peterson <contactbarrypeterson2007@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2007 23:36:41 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Dear Winner,



Claims Agent Barry Peterson
Toyota Car Promotions
Email lottery promo
Email:contactbarrypeterson@yahoo.co.uk
Phone:+447045705714
+447045705711
+447011141288




Dear Winner,

Thank you for your swift response.The company was planning for a big promotion for this year and came up with this idea of e-games promotion where winners are selected though the internet via their e-mail accounts. You don't have to buy any ticket to win our lottery. Your email account was selected by our e-mail spider lottery search engine which picked your email account as one of the lucky winners to have won this wonderful prize.

The process is very simple. Right now your cheque has been insured as well as your toyota prius car.What you need to do now, is to fill out the claims for below and send back to this office for clearance documentation with the BRITISH GAMING BOARD, SO YOUR CHEQUE CAN BE APPROVED AND YOUR CAR RELEASED.



BRITISH GAMING BOARD CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR TOYOTA LOTTERY WINNER



NAMES IN FULL ______________________________________ MAILING ADDRESS_______________________________


COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE_________________________ DATE AND PLACE OF BIRTH__________________________


OCCUPATION_____________________________________ PHONE NUMBER(S)___________________________________


FAX NUMBER________________________ SECRET PIN CODE____________________ AMOUNT WON_________________


WINNING EMAIL ADDRESS_______________________________ NEXT OF KIN____________________________________




We look forward to your prompt response, should you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us as soon as you possibly can.

Regards,
Mr. Barry Peterson,
Your Claims Agent.
..............................................................................................................................................................................................

This email and its attachments are confidential and intended for the exclusive use of the addressee(s). This email and its attachments may also be privileged or protected by legal rules. If you have received this by mistake please let us know by replying immediately and destroying the email and its attachments without reading, copying or forwarding the contents.





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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam