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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:
  • "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
  • "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "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.
  • +447045711347 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: SCARLET COURIER LTD <scarletcourier_deliverydept101@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 14 Jul 2007 08:49:56 +0100 (BST)
Subject: {Disarmed} ScarLet Courier LTD Dispatch UNIT(SELECT OPTION FOR PROMPT DELIVERY)


ScarLet Courier LTD
ADDRESS OF HEAD OFFICE:Link Place, BRIGHTON,
Sussex, BN1 7DX,ENGLAND
Tel: +44 70457 11347



Attention:Ms Else Vog


You are welcome to ScarLet Courier LTD Dispatch UNIT an affiliate of the UK ONLINE NATIONAL LOTTERY We are pleased to be at your service. Scarlet Courier is Regulated and Stipulated by the Finacial Service Authority(FSA).,the finacial institutions that Govern all Finacial activities in the United Kingdom.

This office has been Notified by the UK ONLINE NATIONAL LOTTERY of the amount won by you with their National lottery .This means that you have been officially cleared for payment by the Verifications Department at the headquarters of the UK ONLINE NATIONAL LOTTERY.

The original copy of your winning certificate, together with a covering document (Money Laundering protection and Letter of Affidavit for Claims) from the British government stating that the money was obtained legally through the UK ONLINE NATIONAL LOTTERY
will be sent to you as soon as you meet with any of the option selected.

You can now begin the final step of the claims process, which is the couriering of your won prize to you. With regards to this, there are three options open to you, you are required to select the most convenient of the three below.

Courier of your winning cheque to you via any of this channel listed below:

DHL






Mailing: £180.00
Insurance: £300.00
Vat: £120.00
TOTAL: £600.00
UPS



Mailing: £110.00
Insurance: £300.00
Vat: £110.00
TOTAL: £520.00

FEDEX


Mailing: £180.00
Insurance: £200.00
Vat: £180.00
TOTAL: £560.00




Very Important Notice:The Delivery Charges cannot be Deducted from your winnings, and also the Delivery charges are to be Paid by you.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 and win Situaitions.




Please respond to this email by making a selection from the three options above. Also attach a scanned copy of either your driver's licence, international passport (photo page) or any other legally identifying document.

Send your response to indicate your option within the next 24hrs, so that delivery of your winnings cheque to your residence can be effected immediately without delay.

Once again, Congratulations

Your prompt response will be of good help to you in this matter.

Treat with dispatch,
Mr.Richard Peterson
Registered in England No 929027.
Registered Office: Link Place, BRIGHTON,
Sussex, BN1 7DX,ENGLAND,
Regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
© 2007 ScarLet Courier LTD.

SCARLET COURIER DELIVERY SERVICES



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam