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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:
  • "claims 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 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.
  • tnt_uk_courierservice_1@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: Bridget Larry <claims_agentoffice_uk@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 6 Feb 2007 09:14:09 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: CONTACT TNT COURIER SERVICE FOR YOUR PRIZE DELIVERY


The National Lottery,
P O Box 1010,
Liverpool, L70 1NL UNITED KINGDOM
(Customer Services)
Ref:UK/9420X2/68
Batch:074/05/ZY369
Date:6/2/2007.

ATTENTION:Nasru Karedia,

CONGRATULATIONS! This is to inform you that you have been cleared a
winner of the UK NATIONAL LOTTERY online Sweepstakes International
program.
I am happy to inform you, that your Original Certificate and your Certified
bank cheque have been forwarded to the courier company.
Find below the details of the courier company.

TNT COURIER SERVICE
ADDRESS OF HEAD OFFICE: Link House, 1C CHURCH STREET, WHITCHURCH, HANTS,RG28 7AD ENGLAND.
NAME: MICHEAL FREEMAN(dispatch officer)
EMAIL:tnt_uk_courierservice_1@yahoo.co.uk

You are advised to send the courier company a mail to their email
address for their courier cost. When contacting them, you are to include
this order number as your subject. Please you are advised to write down the order number and save it.

ORDER NUMBER: AG562725

Conclusively,upon your receipt of this notification,do fill the
verification and funds release form and return to the claims department
immediately.

VERIFICATION AND FUNDS RELEASE FORM
SURNAME :
MIDDLE NAME:
AGE:
SEX:
ADDRESS:
COUNTRY:
WINNING EMAIL ADDRESS:
MARITAL STATUS:
OCCUPATION:
ANNUAL INCOME:
PHONE NUMBER:
FAX NUMBER:
LUCKY NUMBER :
REF NUMBER:

Note: you are to Quote your complete names, Ref/Batch Numbers and your direct phone number so that they can honor your letter. Once again i say congratulations and always inform me with your dealings with the courier company.

Thanks,
Bridget Larry (Mrs)
Claims Agent,
UK NATIONAL LOTTERY.





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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam