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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:

• 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:
  • ",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)
  • "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 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.
  • drhoward_colls@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "sharoncole106 Gazeta.pl" <sharoncole106@gazeta.pl>
Reply-To: drhoward_colls@hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 28 May 2008 18:14:41 +0000
Subject: Free Lottery Winner International


Free Lottery Winner International
11 G Lower Dorset Street.Dublin 1,Ireland.

REF NUMBER: 014/061/500
BATCH NUMBER: 962901-PCF03

Dear Winner,
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Free Lottery Winners
International programs held on the 28th of May, 2008 .Your e-mail address
attached to ticket number 27522465896-6453 with serial number 3772-554 drew
lucky numbers 8-7-4-2-3-1-6, whichconsequently won in the 1st category, you
have therefore been approved for a lump
sum pay out of £1,200,000.00 ONE MILLION TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND BRITISH POUNDS
( INSURED TO THE REAL VALUE)CONGRATULATIONS!!!

For security purpose and clarity, we advise that you keep your winning
information confidential until your claims have been processed and your
money remitted to you.

This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and
unwarranted abuse of this program by some participants. All participants
were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from over 20,000
companies and 30,000,000 individual email addresses and
names from all over the world.This promotional program takes place every
year. No tickets were sold.

This lottery was promoted and sponsored by eminent personalities like the
Sultan of Brunei. We look forward to your active participation in our next
year USD50 million slot.

To process your claim, please fill the form below and contact our London
Payment Processing Officer via the email address below:

Processing Officer: Dr Howard Collins

Email Address: *drhoward_colls@hotmail.com
*



Your fund can be release from either of the following options and you are
required to choose the mode in which you want your claim released to
you.
1. International Bank Draft
2. Certified cheque

Note that, all winnings must be claimed not later than one month starting
from today, failure to respond to this mail before one month`s time from
today, all unclaimed funds will be null and void.

Please note in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications,remember
to quote your reference number and batch numbers in all correspondence.

Furthermore, should there be any change of address do inform our Payment
Processing Officer as soon as possible.

Congratulations once more and thank you for being part of our promotional
program.

NOTE: YOU ARE AUTOMATICALLY DISQUALIFIED IF YOU ARE BELOW 18 YEARS OF
AGE.
_____________________________________________________________________
FORM

Under Free Lottery Winners International United Kingdom.

LOTTERY PAYMENT APPLICATION FORM
(To be completed by lottery winners only)
Ticket Number: ........................
Reference Number: .............................
Batch Number: ..........................
First Name: ............................
Last Name: ............................
Home Address: ...........................
Town/City: ..........................
Post Code: ..........................
Country:..............................
Telephone (Home): ...........................
Mobile: ............................
Fax (Private): ...........................
Fax (Office): ............................
Email Address: .............................
Date of Birth: .............................
Occupation: .............................

Sex:........................................
Marital Status: .............................

I.............................hereby declare that the above information are
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.


Sincerely yours,
Mrs Sharon Cole
(Lottery Coordinator)

IMPORTANT NOTICE.
Please be aware that your Paying Authority will Effect Payment Swiftly upon
satisfactory Report, Verifications and validation provided by this
Processing Officer.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam