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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:
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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:
  • ",000,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "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.
  • +447031941678 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: FINANCE DEPT <freelottgroupfinancedepartmentuk@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 9 Aug 2007 03:07:54 +0100 (BST)
Subject: PROCEDURES FOR WINNING CLAIMS OF ONE MILLION UNITED KINGDOM POUND STERLING


FREELOTTO GROUP INTERNATIONAL
Prize Remittance Division (PRD)
Acknowledegement Receipt Claims Form -E

OUR REF: ref FL/0507/
FILE REF 07-21786542
DATE: 09/08/2007
Attention:(Prize Winner),

The Prize Remittance Division (PRD) is in receipt of your application for your lottery winning claims. I am MR TERRY ANDERSON, The Head of the FINANCE DEPARTMENT (Freelotto Group International).

It is my official duty to conduct and supervise the remittance of your lottery winning prize to you as the beneficiary. We believe you have contacted this office upon request and official notification of your emergence as 1-5 batch prize winners of the FREELOTTO AUTOMATIC SUBSCRIPTION TICKET GAME (F.A.S.T) held on January 1, 2007. The Freelotto Group International is licensed Under the United Kingdom Gaming Board. All winners application received at our office are to be sent by their batch to the British Gaming Board for due verification and approval of your lottery prize payment in full. This process is mandated by the British Gaming Board in order to avoid double winning claim by winners.

Your winning is attached to FILE REF NO: 07- 321786542 and will be processed for a full payment of £ 1,000,000.00 United kingdom pound sterling. payable by Cheque only to your name. The process of your application approval will be conducted officially within the next 24 hours of receipt at the British Gaming Board processing center.

Note: That your application will be annulled if the information provided in your claims form are incorrect. We will not send you a further notification status if your claims application was unsuccessful. You are to keep a regular checkup of your email provided in your form as you will receive a successful notification status from us once your prize payment is approved by the British Gaming Board.

NOTE: THE BRITISH GAMING BOARD SUBJECT THAT NON-RESIDENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM ARE REQUIRED TO COVER THE EXPENSES FOR THEIR PRIZE DELIVER BY COURIER OR TRANSFER.

In order to proceed with the claims process of your winning sum, you are hereby adviced to provide us with the following information:

FULL NAME:

CONTACT ADDRESS:

CONTACT PHONE NUMBER:

YOU ARE TO CHOOSE FROM THE BELOW OPTIONS (A and B) THE ONE YOU WILL PREFER US TO SEND YOUR WINNING SUM VIA.

OPTION ( A) CERTIFIED CHEQUE SENT BY COURIER DELIVERY.

OPTION ( B) WINNING SUM SENT VIA SWIFT BANK TRANSFER TO YOUR ACCOUNT.

We like you to allow the process of your Claims Application to be completed at the Board. For further correspondence you can call to speak directly with the Head of Prize Remittance on this numbers +447031941678.

Congratulations once again on your winning notification.

Mr. RICKY JEFFSON and PHIL DOREEN,
(Head of Remittance)
Prize Remittance Division (PRD)
Freelotto Group International.

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam