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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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:
  • "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. )
  • "cheques " (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.
  • +447024062573 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: Lee Simon <leesimon22@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Fri, 7 Sep 2007 17:07:41 +0800 (CST)
Subject: PLEASE FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS


CUSTOMER SERVICES
FREE LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION
PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPT
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM.
ADDRESS: 74 CRANBOUNE ROAD LONDON.
UNITED KINGDOM
TELL:+447024062573
+447031902997



Attn:Dear Winner

I received your mail and i want to officially informing you of the result of the 2007 Lottery Winners International programs recently held . Your e-mail address attached to ticket number 77007742781005-18721 with reference number 414-3721060 drew winning numbers 7-00-71-00-66-49 and credited to batch number 121cfc, which consequently won in the 1st category via our electronic ticket
as stated above.You have therefore been approved for a pay out of 1,800,000.00 (One Million Eight Hundred Thousand Pounds).

LOTTERY PROMOTION INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPT.

You are to provide the following information to facilitate your claim:
1. A duly completed Prize Award Verification & Payment Form to enable this office verifiy, process,approve and have your cheque and winning Certificate couriered to you by postal mail,please find below Prize Award Verification & Payment Form

2. Your prefered mode of payment.

The requested information about you will enable us verify and refer you to our affiliate courier company , so that your winning Certificate and Cheques can be sent to you .
On receipt of your duly completed Prize Award Verification Form, I'll then email you the contact details of our affiliate courier company, so that your winning Certificate and Cheques can be sent to you by postal mail.
I strongly advise you adhere and comply to the instructions above in order to avoid disqualification of your claim.

Note that it is against the policies of this program for any staff of this program to involve in any matter relating to our client's claim. So you are advised not to suggest any kind of involvement to any of our staffs that may attract dis-qualification of our prize claim.


Find below a Prize Award Verification & Payment Form below which you will fill out and return by email to this office.


Once again, CONGRATULATIONS!!!



CUSTOMER SERVICES
FREE LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION
PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPT
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM.
ADDRESS: 74 CRANBOUNE ROAD LONDON.
UNITED KINGDOM
TELL:+447024062573
+447031902997




PRIZE AWARD VERIFICATION FORM

PERSONAL DETAILS:
NAME
ADDRESS:
CITY:
STATE:
ZIP CODE:
TEL:
FAX:
HOME TEL:
EMAIL ADDRESS:
ADDRESS:
OCCUPATION:
MARITAL STATUS:
DATE OF BIRTH:
PAYMENT OPTIONS (CHOOSE AND TICK ONE OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS BELOW:
CHEQUE/PHYSICAL COLLECTION
POSTAL /MAILING ADDRESS: (WHERE THE CHEQUE AND PRIZE WINNING CERTIFICATE WILL BE COURIERED TO):
NAME OF RECEIVER:
DECLARATION:
I,...............................................................HEREBY
DECLARE THAT I HAVE NEVER RECIEVED ANY SETTLEMENT FROM FREE LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION NOR ANY MEMBER OF MY FAMILY ,FILLED CLAIM ON MY BEHALF TO FREE LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION. I, THEREFORE AUTHORIZE, FREE LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION TO ACT ON MY BEHALF IN THE PROCESSING AND SEND MY PRIZE AS INSTRUCTED BY ME.

SIGNATURE(TYPE IN YOUR NAMES): DATE:

NOTE: THIS VERIFICATION FORM SHOULD BE COMPLETELY FILLED OUT AND RETURN WITHIN 72HOURS OF RECEIPT OF THIS FORM.


Regard,
Simon Lee


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam