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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
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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:
  • "clearance certificate" (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")
• 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: Howard Wellington <howard.wellington@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2007 13:15:28 +0100 (BST)
Subject: RE:VERIFICATION PROCESS COMPLETED. CONTACT COURIER COMPANY



The U.K. National Lottery
12 Bridge Street,
Staines Middlesex TW18 4TP
United Kingdom.

Customer Service/Claims Department

Ref: LSUK/2031/8161/05
Batch: R3/A312-59

ATTN. Aren Rich,

My office has just acknowledged the receipt of your email. Please take note.This is a Noble Organisation, and has never and will never be involved in any scam. This organisation is aware of the high level of scam on the Internet, so we take every precautionary measures possible towards making sure that our winners receive their winnings within the shortest possible time, and via the safest means. This Foundation has positively affected different people in all spheres of live. We have affiliates all over the world especially India. But our cooperate headquarters is in London, United Kingdom. Below, are some of the extracts from our affiliate firms and awards given to people.

http://www.eff.org/awards/coop.html
http://www.primepointfoundation.org/IndiaVisionAwards_AwardsPresentation.html

We have had the same problem over the years, so we have included the use of a high British International Security, which also carries an insurance policy, by prompting winners to obtain a Drug/Anti-Terrorist Clearance Certificate to cover their winnings. This will then serve as a check on the usage of such funds for carrying out nefarious acts like terrorism, drug trafficking, etc.
The links below will give you an in depth knowledge of the bomb blast in London.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4661059.stm
http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/07/07/london.timeline/
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/050707/325/fmtwn.html
http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-1188265,00.html

It is expected that you understand the fact that this is not basically same as every other lottery. as to the problem you encountered trying to reach me, it could be due to network connection due to the distance.I advice that you follow the necessary procedures to enable the quick transfer of your winnings to you. I hope you understand.
Lastly, if you are still in doubt, write an official email to this office forfeiting your winnings. This will then make the Board of Directors re-stake your winnings for the next edition of this E-lottery promotions.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Regards,
Howard Wellington
UKNL Claims Agent

For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claim is processed and your money remitted to you in whatever manner you deem fit to claim your prize. This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program. Please be warned !!!


© Copyright 1994-2007 The U.K. National Lottery Inc.





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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam