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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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:
  • "deadline" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "vat (5%)" (VAT rate in the UK is 17.5%, check the math)
  • "courier service" (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.
  • +447031966477 (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.
  • swiftcouriers.services@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Swift Couriers <swiftcouriers.services@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2007 11:20:56 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Reg Order No: SC762775/4 Ready For Delivery ..... Awaiting Your Confirmation


UK & Worldwide Parcel Delivery and Courier Services
Reg Order No: SC762775/4

ATTENTION: Ms Ilse Naust,

Be informed that the Awards Department of The Shell Foundation has officially cleared your Award cheque for delivery. The original copy of this certificate, your cheque and covering letter from British Home Office stating that the money was obtained legally through The Shell Foundation Grant Award will be sent to you as soon as you meet with our requirement(s) for package delivery.

We are a fast and effective International Courier Agency that specialises in offering comprehensive services to destinations world-wide. We have an extensive network of overseas specialist agents that ensures your documents, parcels, and freight are delivered safely through our door-to-door integrated and Air/Road networks.

With our competitive rates and easy to use, secure facilities, you can now arrange to have your parcel collected from any address you choose, and arrange for it to be delivered to almost any destination in the world. You can now begin the final step of the claims process, which is the transfer of your Award to you. With regards to this, kindly choose a more convenient one amongst the lot. The options, together with their associated conditions are presented below:

DELIVERY OPTIONS

INTERNATIONAL (Express Delivery)
An original certificate of weight.....0.7 Grams
Total weight of parcel................1.32 Grams
Colour of parcel......................Brown
Flight; .................................£ 100.00
Insurance.............................£ 735.00
Vat (5%)..............................£ 041.75
TOTAL.................................£ 876.75

SAMEDAY Expedited
An original certificate of weight.....0.7 Grams
Total weight of parcel................1.32 Grams
Colour of parcel......................Brown
Mailing.................................£ 020.00
Insurance.............................£ 689.00
Vat (5%)..............................£ 035.45
TOTAL.................................£ 744.45

NEXT DAY Document Express
This service is for documents only.
An original certificate of weight.....0.7 Grams
Total weight of parcel................1.32 Grams
Colour of parcel......................Brown
Mailing...............................£ 020.00
Insurance............................£ 589.00
Vat (5%)..............................£ 030.45
TOTAL.................................£ 639.45

ECONOMY (5-7Days Delivery)
An original certificate of weight.....0.7 Grams
Total weight of parcel................1.32 Grams
Colour of parcel......................Brown
Mailing.................................£ 020.00
Insurance.............................£ 391.00
Vat (5%)..............................£ 020.55
TOTAL.................................£ 431.55

POST OFFICE MAIL Import Services
An original certificate of weight.....0.7 Grams
Total weight of parcel................1.32 Grams
Colour of parcel......................Brown
Mailing................................£ 018.00
Insurance.............................£ 327.00
Vat (5%)..............................£ 017.25
TOTAL.................................£ 362.25

Note that your prize is protected by a hardcover insurance policy by New London County Mutual Insurance Company, which makes it impossible to deduct any amount from the money before it has been remitted to you. This means that the above charges cannot be deducted from the prize and hence must be provided by you before your prize is transferred to you.

Also attach a scanned copy of either your driver's license, international passport (photo page) or any other legally identifying document.

Also be reminded that the deadline for claims on Awards is exactly two weeks after the receipt of this email. After this period, your Award will be deemed to have been forfeited by you and will be returned to the Shell Foundation.

Good luck and Congratulations once again. Please send your response within the next 24hrs.

Mr. Sam Wiltord (Dispatch Officer),
Swift Couriers
SWIFT HOUSE
Hambridge Lane
Newbury
Berkshire
RG14 5TU
Tel: +44-703-196-6477
Fax: +44-701-702-6565
swiftcouriers.services@yahoo.co.uk
Opens 7days-24hrs-365days a year


CONFIDENTIAL NOTICE: This email message, including any attachments, is intended only for the use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain information that is privileged, confidential and prohibited from unauthorized disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient of this message, any dissemination, distribution or copying of this message is strictly prohibited. If you received this message in error, please notify the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.

Copyright © 2000- 2007 Swift Couriers®,Group. All rights reserved. Terms of Service - Guidelines


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam