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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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• 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:

• 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:
  • "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.
  • +34671489313 (Spain, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • collectingwinnings@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Walters Martinez" <enquiring9@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2007 16:01:35 -0700
Subject: CLAIMS PROCESSING FORM


*Dear Lucky Winner*

*THIS FORM SHOULD BE FILLED AND RETURNED VIA FAX OR EMAIL BY THE BENEFICIARY
OF THE WINNING PRIZE FOR VERIFICATION BEFORE TRANSFER*

*FIRST NAME:……………………………………………….. LAST NAME:…………………………………………………
RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS:……………………………………………………………………………………………………
DATE AND PLACE OF BIRTH:………………………………………………………………………………………………..
TEL NUMBER :……………………………… COUNTRY CODE……………… FAX NUMBER…………………………
NEXT OF KIN NAME AND ADDRESS:………………………………………………………………………………………..
YOUR REF. NUMBER.:…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
E-MAIL ADDRESS:………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
TICKET NUMBER:……………………………………….. AMOUNT
WON:………………………………….......................
BATCH NUMBER…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
OCCUPATION:……………………………………………….. MARITAL STATUS……………………………………………*

*TRANSFER OPTIONS*


*1. SWIFT BANK TRANSFER (BANKING DETAILS REQUIRED)
2. CERTIFIED CHEQUE (INCLUDE CORRECT MAILING ADDRESS)
PLEASE NOTE: THE ABOVE TRANSFER OPTIONS ARE POSSIBLE ONLY WHEN THE
BENEFICIARY CANNOT TRAVEL TO MAKE CLAIMS TO THEIR RESPECTIVE
WINNINGS.BENEFICIARIES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR TRANSFER CHARGES.*


*DECLARATION*


*I………………………………………………. HEREBY DECLARE THAT THE ABOVE DATA ARE TRUE, AND IN
ANY CASE OF UNFORSEEN CIRCUMSTANCE, MY NEXT OF KIN HAS THE RIGHT TO CLAIMS
OF MY TOTAL WINNING PRIZE. CITY SECURITY & FINANCE INTERNATIONA SHALL ACT AS
MY AGENT IN FACILITATING THE PAYMENT OF MY FUNDS.
BENEFICIARY`S SIGNATURE………………………………DATE……………………… *


*PLEASE SEND YOUR FILLED CLAIMS FORM IMMEDIATELY TO **
collectingwinnings@yahoo.com* <collectingwinnings@yahoo.com>* SO WE CAN
PROCEED WITH THE PROCESSING AND
TRANSFER OF YOUR PRIZE,*

*I AWAIT YOUR RESPONSE.*

*Regards*

*File/Claims Officer
Mr. Walters Martinez
FOREIGN DEPARTMENT MANAGER
CITY SECURITY & FINANCE INTERNATIONAL
Tel: +34-671-489-313
Fax: +34-911-518-488
Email:collectingwinnings@yahoo.com*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam