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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:
  • "transfer of your funds" (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)
  • ",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)
  • "courier service" (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.
  • +447024080102 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +448709744065 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: Schafthausen Lotterien <schafthausenoffice@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 3 Sep 2007 06:43:28 +0100 (BST)
Subject: More Information


Schafthausen Lotterien draws was conducted from an exclusive list of 50,000,000 e-mail addresses of individual and corporate bodies picked by an automated random computer ballot search from the internet as part of our international promotions program which we conduct every year. No tickets were sold.

After this automated computer ballot, your e-mail address attached to serial number 09-11-11 drew the lucky number 7-06-22-05-22-62, which consequently emerged as one of first ten (10) lucky winners in the United Kingdom category.

You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay off of €1,000,000.00 (One Million EURO) in cash credited to file SL/05/4007. This is from total cash prize of 50 Million Euro shared amongst the first fifty- (50) lucky winners all around the world. Your funds are now deposited in an offshore bank with a hardcover insurance.

Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our European booklet representative office in London. In view of this, our affiliate bank in the Europe would release your €1,000,000.00 (One Million Euro) to you in the United Kingdom.

To claim your prize funds, you are required to come directly to our UK office for direct claim. If you have problems with coming to our office you can make a wire transfer of your funds to your private bank account. You can also employ the use of a courier service company to deliver your winning cheque to your home or office address.

For a telegraphic transfer of your funds to your private bank account, you are required to send your name and address in full, phone number, bank name, bank address, next of kin, account number, Swift/Routing/Sort Code, so as to facilitate the release of your funds to your stated bank account.

For a courier service delivery ,you are required to send your name, phone number, information of next of kin, mailing address(home or office address), so as to facilitate the release of your Funds to your desired address.

You are required to send the necessary information in full as regards your chosen option to effect the transfer of your winnings to your designation.

Congratulations once again from all members of our staff and thanks for being part of our promotions program.

Yours faithfully,
Mr. Wilf Trafford
Information and Payment Bureau:
London Representative Office.
Schafthausen Lotterien.
Tel +44-702-408-0102
+44-702-408-0356
Fax: +44-870-974-4065

CC

Mrs. Lena Etzel
Promotions Manager
Schafthausen Lotterien.
Management and Central Services:
Deg-215 B - 02241, 2E- Weg -Schafthausen
Switzerland.
E-mail:info@schafthausenboard.com
Website:http://www.mcisd.info


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam