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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.

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

• The following fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "22 garden close, stamford" (address often used in fake lottery scams)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "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. 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.
  • +447011151326 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: volks draw <volks-draw7@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <claims_agents_2007@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 18 Jul 2007 18:48:12 -0400
Subject: You Have Won The 2007 Volkswagen Award!!!



GRAND BONANZA INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENTVOLKSWAGEN GROUP22 Garden Close, Stamford,Lincs, PE9 2YP, LondonUnited Kingdom. PRIZE AWARD ===============
This is to inform you of the results of the draws of our VOLKSWAGEN Grand Bonanza International Program(GBIP) held on the 18th Of July,2007 in the United Kingdom. We are pleased to notify you on your emergence as a Winner in this Program and you have been awarded with a cash prize of £500.000 (Five Hundred Thousand Great British Pounds).
The selection process was carried out through random computer balloting from an online database of World Wide Web sites of over 250,000 email addresses drawn from all the continents of the world.
This Program is approved by the British Gaming Board and also Licensed by The International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR). This Promotional Program is the 3rd in its series which we intend to hold annually in comformity with our corporate policy and sense of civic responsibilities.
Your Draw Code Number is 10 12 13 17 31 37 44 and your Reference Number is VNS-NL/02CTG/3103/14UK
To begin the processing of your prize you are to contact our European booklet representative agency as allocated to your Draw Code number.You are to make contact with the accredited Prize Transfer agency as stated below:
Contact Name:Dr Walter Roman
E-mail: claims_agents_lotteryboard@yahoo.co.ukTel:+44 701 115 1326 (all calls only during the UK working hours)Fax:+44 707 570 0407
You are to contact the Claims Agency immediatelty with your Draw Code and Reference Numbers. To facilitate the smooth release of your Award, you are also advised to send to the Claims Agency the under listed informations as soon as possible:
Claims Requirements: ==================1.Name in full-------------------- (2)Address-----------------------3.Nationality--------------------- (4)Age---------------------------5.Occupation---------------------- (6)Phone/Fax---------------------7.Draw Code Numbers--------------- (8)Reference Numbers-------------
Select mode of collection of winning prize:
(1) ELECTRONIC BANK TRANSFER(BANK TO BANK TRANSFER)
(2) COURIER DELIVERY(CERTIFIED CHEQUE MADE OUT IN YOUR NAME DELIVERED TO YOU THROUGH OUR AFFILIATE COURIER COMPANY).
Upon completion of the above form,you will be directed to contact thecourier company or paying bank in charge of transfer of winning funds towinners.You are also required to send a scanned copy of your Internationalpassport,driver's license or any other legal identifying instruments.
DECLARATION: I.......................... HEREBY DECLARE THAT ALL THE ABOVE INFORMATIONS ANDATTACHED COPY OF IDENTIFICATION ARE TRUE AND CORRECT TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE,I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY PAYMENT NOR ANY MEMBER OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS FILED A CLAIMON MY BEHALF.I HEREBY AUTHORIZE THE (SECURITY COMPANY) OF THE VOLKSWAGEN LOTTERY PROMOTIONTO ACT AS MY CLAIMS AGENT TO PROCESS MY CLAIMS TO FACILITATE THE TRANSFER OF MY FUNDS TO ME AS I MAY WISH. DATE: ...........................SIGN: .............................
( IMPORTANT NOTICE )
*Winners are advised to keep their winning details/information from the public, to avoid fraudulent claim pending the transfer/claim by Winner. *All Staffs of the VOLKSWAGEN Group are not to partake in this Promotional Program.
Regards,Mrs Maria TrabaaiHead of Public Relations Dept.
PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS E-MAIL, CONTACT YOUR CLAIMS AGENT!!!

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam