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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
  • "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "00,000.00" (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.
  • +447031908575 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: Glarus Lotterien <glarus-lotterein@live.com>
Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 17:39:19 -0400
Subject: Serial number:GL1065-45




Glarus Lotterien
Head Office
506 1st St
Glarus,
Switzerland.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

You have been awarded a lump sum of 1,000,000.00 (One Million EURO) in the Glarus-Lotterien Satellite Software email lottery

in which e-mail addresses are picked randomly by Software powered by the internet

through the worldwide website. Your email address was amongst those chosen this year for the Glarus-Lotterien Satellite

lottery. And this promotional program is proudly sponsored by the Glarus-LOTTERIEN organization.

Your email address, attached to Ref number 4 -11 - 41 - 26 - 04 - 77 with Serial number GL1065-45 drew the lucky Numbers 10,

and consequently won the lottery in the "A" Category. You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of 1,000,000.00

(One Million EURO).

Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our European Booklet representative office in Europe as indicated in

your play coupon. In View of this, your 1,000,000.00 (One Million EURO) will be released to you in the United Kingdom,

London Representative Office Of the Glarus Lotterien Board. our European agent will immediately commence the process to

facilitate the release of your winning funds as soon as you contact them.

All participants were selected randomly from World Wide Web site through computer draw System and extracted from over

300,000,000 companies and individual email addresses.

This promotion takes place annually. For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning details confidential till

your claims is processed and the winning funds remitted to you in whatever manner you deem fit to Claim your prize. This is

part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some unscrupulous

elements.

To claim your prize funds, you are required to come directly to our London 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.

You are required to send the necessary information as regards your chosen option to our help line below:

GLARUS LOTTERIEN.
Information and Payment Bureau:
London Representative Office
Help Service Contact
Tel (1): +44-703-190-8575
E-mail: glarus-lotterein@live.com

You will be assisted in the processing and remittance of your prize funds as regards your chosen options

Note: that all prize funds must be claimed not later than 10 days.

After this date all funds will be returned to the LOTTERY TREASURY as unclaimed.

please endeavor to quote your Reference Number: 4 -11 - 41 - 26 - 04 - 77 and Serial Number: GL1065-45 in every

correspondence with your help service.

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

Yours faithfully,

Mr Marvis Rooy,
Glarus Lotterien.
Management and Central Office:
506 1st St
Glarus,
Switzerland.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam