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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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:

• 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:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "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.
  • +447045708474 (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.
  • express@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: CLAIMS AGENT <claimsagent_acculotto01@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sun, 29 Jul 2007 21:20:39 +0100 (BST)
Subject: CONTACT THE COURIER COMPANY FOR DELIVERY


ACCULOTTO.COM INTERNATIONAL
Haandvaerkervej 8,1 UK-9000
Liverpool, L70 1NL UNITED KINGDOM.
FROM:THE PROMOTIONS CO-ORDINATOR
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS DEPT.
www.acculotto.com



Attn: Millicent Traumacher

Good day,

I am Mr Benjamin spooner (Foreign Transfer Manager) The claims agent assigned to your case. I wish to Congratulate you on your victory, you are a lucky person to have won this lottery (Give thanks, you are blessed).

Regarding your claims, you are advised to contact our Accredited Affiliate Courier Company as soon as possible so they can deliver your cheque to your home country immediately Note: That your Original Certificate and your Certified bank cheque have been fowarded to the courier company. You are to contact the courier company with the following,

================================================
1.Full Names
2.Phone number
3.A scanned identification of yourself sent via email.
4.Winning numbers/serial number.
================================================

I hope you will invest your big money wisely?

Below are their contact details:

SPEED MAIL COURIER SERVICE LIMITED.
OFFICE ADDRESS:Unit 5 - Gelderd Trading Estate,
Brown Lane West,
Leeds,West Yorkshire.LS12 6BD
Correspondence: Mr Benjamin Spooner(Dispatch officer)
Tel: +44 704 570 8474
Tel: +44 704 573 0947
Email : speedmail_delivery express@yahoo.co.uk

Details of the requirement will be communicated to you by them once you contact them. You are to keep me fully informed on all developments. I advice you call the courier company on phone.

Once again,congratulations.

Yours sincerely,
Mr. kelvin Williams,(Foreign Transfer Manager)
TRUST MANAGEMENT AND FINANCE BV.
ACCULOTTO.COM CLAIMING SECURITY AGENCY.
LIVERPOOL L70 1NL, UK


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam