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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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "fiduciary 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)
• 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.
  • +447031819861 (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.
  • globalcourierservice_2006@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: smith larry <agentsmith_uklotto1@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 12:19:22 +0100 (BST)
Subject: CONTACT COURIER COMPANY FOR FUTHER DETAILS


ATTENTION: Ms Krausmann,

CONGRATULATIONS!
This is to inform you that you have been cleared a winner of the UK NATIONAL LOTTERY online Sweepstakes International program. I wish to inform you that the Administrative department has just approved and referred your claim file to the courier company,global courier Service so that your Prize along with your winning documents can be sent to you but you shall bear the cost of courier delivery of your cheque and your documents.

Find below the details of the courier contact.
NAME:MR SEAN WILLIS(dispatch officer)
COMPANY: GLOBAL COURIER SERVICE
12 ABBOT PARK ROAD,
SE2 1EP LONDON (REG NO:103308)
TEL: +447031819861 +447031819862


SERVICE EMAIL : globalcourierservice_2006@yahoo.co.uk
You are adviced to send the courier an email for their courier cost of transfering your prize within one week(7 days) of receiving this notice.
Note: you are Quote your
complete names:
Ref/Batch Numbers:
Reg Order No: C562725
Amount Won:£950,000,00
and your direct phone number so that they can honour your letter.Once
again i say congratulations and always inform me with your dealings with
the courier company.

Thanks,
Fiduciary Agent,
SMITH LARRY




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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam