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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:
  • "insurance fee " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "claim agent" (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 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.
  • +447031946898 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• 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.
  • skype.aword.promotion@gmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Tue, 25 Nov 2008 13:48:30 +0100
Subject: SKYPE AWARDS PROMO!



The Desk Of The Promotions Manager
International Promotions/Skype Award Center
124 Stockport Road, Longsight,
Manchester M60 2DB - United Kingdom.
Tel: +44 703 194 6898
Fax: +44 703 194 6898


Reference Number: 1037231LL


This is to inform you that you have won a prize money of three Hundred Th=
ousand Pounds (GBP300,000: 00.)
for the month of November, 2008 Prize promotion which was organized by SK=
YPE AWARDS.=C2=A0=20
The Skype collects all the email addresses of the people that are active =
online,among the millions=20
that subscribed to various websites. Six people are selected yearly to be=
nefit from this promotion=20
and you are one of the Selected Winners this year.


PAYMENT OF PRIZE AND CLAIM.


Winners shall choose from one of the payment option stated below:


A] Bank Wire Transfer

For this option, winnners must provide the below stated information:


(1) Bank Full Name:

(2) Bank Full Address (including State and Country):

(3) Bank Telephone Number:

(4) Bank Account Number:

(5) Name of Owner of Account:

(6) Swift Code:

(7) Charge of Transfer (C.O.T) - 750GBP=C2=A0 (Must be paid before consig=
nment transfer of funds)

=C2=A0

B] International Certified Cheque

For this option, winnners must provide the below stated information:


(1) Your Full Name:

(2) Your Complete Mailing Address:

(3) A Scanned Copy of your I.D clearly showing your face. (Note that this=
I.D will be required to=20
claim your parcel when it arrives your apartment).

(4) Insurance Fee & Shipment charge of 500GBP=C2=A0 (Must be paid before
consignment dispatch).

=C2=A0

All funds must be claimed no later than 5 days from date of Draw Notifica=
tion. Any prize not=20
claimed within this period will be forfeited.


Below you will find a Processing Form, requesting your required Particula=
rs. Please provide=20
all requested information to help us processs your claim in good time.

=C2=A0

SKYPE ONLINE PROCESSING FORM

=C2=A0

REFERENCE NUMBER:

FULL NAMES:

ADDRESS:

CITY:

STATE:=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0

ZIP:=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=
=A0

PHONE /FAX:

COUNTRY:

SEX:

AGE:

MARITAL STATUS:

OCCUPATION:

E-MAIL ADDRESS:

NATIONALITY:


PAYMENT OPTION: [A]/[B]


Forms Should be returned to your claim agent with details below:


Agent Martins Claude
E-mail:skype.aword.promotion@gmail.com


CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN
Yours in service
Patricia Elsworth
(Lottery Coordinator)

=C2=A0

Note: Do not reply to this email because your entries will not be process=
ed. All entries should be sent to skype.aword.promotion@gmail.com

=C2=A0

*************************************************************************=
****

This Notification MUST remain confidential until your funds is successful=
ly handed over to you to=20
avoid disqualification that may arise from double claim. You may also rec=
eive similar e-mails from=20
people portraying our image. This is solely to collect your personal info=
rmation from you and lay=20
claim over your winning. In the event you receive any e-mail similar to t=
his notification letter we=20
have emailed you, kindly delete it from your mail box and make no further=
correspondence to such=20
persons or body.Skype shall not be held responsible for any loss of fund =
arising from the above=20
mentioned.

*************************************************************************=
*****

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam