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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
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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:

• 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. 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.
  • +447045720335 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: peter jonathan <peter_jonathan_uk70700@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2007 09:44:37 +0100 (BST)
Subject: INSTRUCTIONS TO FOLLOW!!!!



Atten:Valued Customer,




Congratulations once again on behalf of the BRITISH 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 BRITISH NATIONAL LOTTERY BOARD, I wish to formally announce to you that you have successfully passed the Email Screening and Verification Form Matching test conducted for all online winners in your Category. Hence you are therefore cleared.

Your parcel with identification number: BRLFGP2551256/03 has been sent to our affiliate delivery company (MALCOM DELIVERY SERVICES PLC). You are required to contact the malcom office with the following details:

COMPANY NAME: MALCOM DELIVERY SERVICES PLC
DISPTCH OFFICER'S NAME: MR.BEN SPARKLAN
EMAIL: Bensparklan@malcomdeliveryservices.com
TEL: +44 70457 20335

NOTE: Services rendered by MALCOM DELIVERY SERVICES PLC are to be paid by you and not the lottery board. Have it in mind that your won prize before it can be delivered to you and your won lottery prize cannot be deducted from, this is because your cheque cannot be cashed by anyone except 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 United Kingdom constitutional assembly as it affect the united kingdom freight services constitutionally. This is to protect winners and to avoid misappropriation of funds. It is imperative that you add your identification number {BRLFGP2551256/03} as the subject of any of your correspondence with the delivery 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,
Mr.Peter Jonathan
BRITISH ONLINE LOTTERY.
THIS IS REAL!!!!



















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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam