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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "fudiciary" (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. )
  • "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.
  • +447045738661 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Edward Cole" <consult_agentedwardcole@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 30 Jul 2007 22:29:27 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Payment Release Order Form..


Payment Release Order Dept.
National Lottery Online Program
United Kingdom



ATTN : Sigfreda Frei,

I am Mr. Edward Cole, the fiduciary agent assigned to your case. I wish to congratulate you on your winning and to say you are lucky to have won this lottery.

You are required to fill the form below, to facilitate the processing of your claims and certificate, to enable us process the payment of your prize and deliver to you as required.

You are also to send a copy of your International Passport or Drivers License for proper identification and verification (If available) to avoid any form of misidentification as well and you are to send your Filled Form and Scanned Identification via Fax or Email attachment to us.

You are to select only one (1) from the three (3) given options on how to claim your prize. For any option you choose, you are to identify in the appilcable box.

1. You shall proceed(Travel by self) to our paying agent's office in the United Kingdom to receive your prize of One Million Five Hundred Thousand Pounds Sterling (£1,500,000.00) in cash.

2. We can have your winning bank cheque of One Million Five Hundred Thousand Pounds Sterling (£1,500,000.00) and certificate as a winner deliver to you via the world courier services.

3. Your won funds One Million Five Hundred Thousand Pounds Sterling (£1,500,000.00) will be transfer into your designated bank account by the paying bank.

You shall be totally responsible for any of the option you so desire i.e the traveling expenses,arrangement with the courier company in regards to the delivering of your winning cheque and certificate,also if choosing the electronic bank transfer method you shall be resposible for the transfer charges.

As soon as we receive your Filled Form, we shall provide you with further details to enable you claim your funds without any form of delay.

NOTE: Your funds have been insured and there shall be no deductions of any kind from the funds you have won.

Once again I say congratulations and hope to hear from you soon.

Regards,
Mr. Edward Cole,
Fudiciary/Claim Agent,
Lottery Claims Release Department.
Phone : +44 704 573 8661

Name Prefix (Mr., Mrs., Ms., Dr., etc.): [input] First name: [input] Middle name: [input] Last name: [input] Nickname: [input] Maiden name: [input] Suffix (Sr., Jr., II, III, etc.): [input] Personal Date of birth (yyyy-mm-dd): [input] Gender: [input] Male [input] Female Marital status: [input] Spouse/significant other: [input] Lotto Batch Number [input] Lotto Reference Numbers [input] Preferences Preferred address for correspondence: [input] Home [input] Work/business Home address and phone Address: [input]
[input] City: [input] State/province: [input] Zip/postal code: [input] Country: [input] Phone: [input] Fax: [input] Mobile/cellular: [input] Internet at home E-mail: [input] Home page: [input] Employment and business Job title: [input] Occupation: [input] Company name: [input] Work address: [input]
[input] City: [input] State/province: [input] Zip/postal code: [input] Country: [input] Phone: [input] Fax: [input] Mobile/cellular: [input] Mode of winnings collection
1. Cash Pickup (Yes/No) [input]
2. Courier (Yes/No) [input] 3. Electronic Bank Transfer(Yes/No) [input]


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This message may contain confidential information that is legally privileged and is intended only for the use of the parties to whom it is addressed. If you are not an intended recipient you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of any information in this e-mail is strictly prohibited. If you receive this message in error please notify the sender by return e-mail. All information and attachments remain the property of the U.K. NATIONAL LOTTERY and should be held as confidential.





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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam