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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • " lotto international " (no such lottery exists)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "claims office" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "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.
  • freelottclaims_dept@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: freelottclaims_dept@hotmail.com (Free Lotto Sweepstakes)
Reply-To: freelottclaims_dept@hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2008 17:11:32 -400
Subject: YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS HAS WON


The Free Lotto Sweepstakes,
PO Box 42 Peter borough SE15 2UD
UNITED KINGDOM
Ref No: MELI-T/ 17-F044262312
Batch No:901/00319/HLP
Zonal Draw No: GMLA2-003
Grand Draw No: 12099

Dear Sir / Madam,

This mail is to bring to your notice that your email emerged as one of
our winning email address in our last lotto sweepstakes programme that
made you automatically a winner of the sum of £500.000.00(G.B.P).
In other to claim your won prize from the lottery board you are required
to fill out the claims processing form and send it to our claims
officer here in the UK with the details below:

To file for your claim, please contact our claims/fiduciary agent.

AGENT: Mrs. Lynda Morrison
EMAIL: freelottclaims_dept@hotmail.com
Below is the claims form you are required to fill:

PAYMENT PROCESSING FORM

1.FULL NAMES:__
2.ADDRESS:______
3.SEX:_____
4.AGE:___
5.MARITAL STATUS:__
6.OCCUPATION:___
7.TELEPHONE NUMBER:_
8.AMOUNT WON:____
9. COUNTRY___
10. INDICATE PREFERRED MODE OF PRIZE COLLECTION: A. CHEQUE B. BANK
TRANSFER

Note that you are automatically disqualified if you are below 18 years
of age and illegal dissemination of this mail is highly prohibited.

Yours Sincerely,

BRIAN HUNT.
Online Co ordinator.
FREE LOTTO INTERNATIONAL COMPANY

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam