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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:

• 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:
  • "affidavit of claim" (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. )
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• 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.
  • +447011129085 (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.
  • thpgray@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Thompson Gray <thpgray@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 8 Aug 2007 23:24:19 +0100 (BST)
Subject: ONLINE VERIFICATION FORM


ONLINE SWEEPSTAKES INTERNATIONAL
NOTIFICATION DESK
Ref: UK/2790Z9/14
Batch: 095/07/GY479
DEVON, EX15 1BS
UNITED KINGDOM


Dear Winner,
Congratulations once more,However before any procedure please kindly read the mail below for proper understanding.Also a document will be sent to you immediately your data has been verified at our verification department from the Judiciary High Court of United Kingdom for your signature to be appended on it this is known as AFFIDAVIT OF CLAIMS FORM from the judiciary hign court of United Kingdom.

Also i will like to know the language you speak so that i can translate when writing you.

You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of $2,500,000 (TWO MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS) in cash credited to file KTU/9023118308/03.

To file for your claim, please contact your Fiduciary Agent via mail
below:

1. Name:
2. Home Address:................................................
3. Marital Status:..................................................
4. Town/City:........................................................
5. Occupation:......................................................
6. Age:.................................................................
7. Sex:..................................................................
8. Nationality:........................................................
9. Country of Residence:........................................
10. Telephone Number:...........................................
11. Mobile/Cell Phone Number:................................
15. Email Address:..................................................

I ___________________________ hereby declare that the above
information is true and binding on me. If at any time it is discovered that I have given false information, I will forfeit my rights to my winnings. Note: Your are advised to contact your claims processing officer stated above for contact (procedures) details.

MR THOMPSON GRAY
EMAIL: thpgray@yahoo.co.uk
Tel: +44-701-112-9085
Fax: +44-707-576-7559





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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam