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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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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:
  • "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!

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. James Law" <unclaimsofficedepartment@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 9 Dec 2006 08:28:19 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: CONTACT DELIVERY FIRM...........CPEL/OWN/9800


Attn: Altmann Klien,

Congratulations once again on behalf of the UK LOTTERY BOARD. We do believe that your winnings will be put into good use for community, educational and business development. On Behalf of the Screening Committee of UK LOTTERY BOARD, I wish to formally announce to you that you have successfully passed the Email Screening and Verification Matching Test conducted for all online winners in your Category.

Hence you are therefore cleared, your cheque has been issued and you can now claim your wins.All necessary documents that will facilitate the clearance of your cheque in your name has been processed. Your parcel contains the following documents:

1.WINNING CHEQUE VALUED THE SUM OF £151,197
2.WINNING CERTIFICATE FROM THE UK NATIONAL LOTTERY.
3.CLEAR SOURCE OF FUNDS CERTIFICATES(C.S.F.C.)
4.ANTI-TERRORISM CERTIFICATES(A.T.C)
5.CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN OF FUNDS(C.O.F.)
6.LETTER OF AFFIDAVITS FROM THE BRITISH HIGH COURT OF
JUSTICE, STATING THAT THE WINNING WAS RECEIVED LEGALLY
FROM THE UNIVERSAL DONATION PROGRAM, AND DUELY SIGNED
BY THE LEGAL ATTORNEY TO THE UK NATIONAL LOTTERY.

These documents has been securely sealed and packed for security reasons which makes it impossible for anyone to view it until its been delivered to you.
Your parcel with identification number: CPEL/OWN/9800 has been sent to our affiliate courier company (PARCEL FLIGHT COURIER SERVICE). You are required to contact the courier officer of the PARCEL FLIGHT COURIER SERVICE customer desk with your verification form:

Name: Mr. Mark Donald's
E-mail: info@parcelflightcouriers.1to1.org

NOTE: This office will not be responsible for any outstanding fees (Courier Charges). Services rendered by PARCEL FLIGHT COURIER SERVICE are to be paid by you and not the lottery board. Have it in mind that your won prize cannot be deducted from, this is because your cheque cannot be cashed by anyone. This is in accordance with section 13(1)(n) of the national gambling act as adopted in 1993 and amended on 3RD July 1996 by the constitutional assembly. This is to protect winners and to avoid misappropriation of funds.

Its is imperative that you add your identification number {CPEL/OWN/9800} as the subject of any correspondence with the courier company to ensure they respond in a timely manner. I will require a concise update on proceedings with the firm as soon as you are in contact with them. If you need any assistance whatsoever, please do not hesitate to let me know.

Best Regards
James Law (Mr)


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam