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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
  (+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:
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "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.
  • +447045708995 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +447011120969 (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.
  • britishgamingboard@mail2london.com

Fraud email example:

From: "MR PETER WOLES"<prizeprocessingagent@myway.com>
Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2007 18:27:41 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: < < REF NO: EML/ 56-TF-8890776 (CONTACT COURIER FIRM) > >


Dear Alan Reddish,
Good day our esteemed winner, I received your email. I am Mr. Peter Woles the fiduciary agent assigned to your case. I wish to congratulate you on your emergence as a winner. The information provided by you helped us process your winnings. This way, we are sure the money goes to the rightful owner.
Note that any contrary claims will not be entertained by us as the Information you have given is binding. To this effect, your winnings will be drawn out in your full names as given to us by you in your claims form and a certificate will be prepared for you. This is to be your proof of winning.
Please expect the sum of £420,000.00. Which would be delivered to you instalmentally of £42,000.00 (Forty-Two Thousand Pounds).This is done because of the amount won by you for the next ten (10) months? The cheque will be delivered via our affiliate Courier Company, ASTRAL COURIERSWIFT SERVICES LONDON, The documentation process is complete, pending when you sign your Fund Release Documents which is included in the parcel to be couriered to you. After signing the documents you are to keep the original and have a photocopy sent back to EURO MILLIONS.
E-mail addresses of individuals and companies from America, Asia, Africa, Australia, Canada, Europe, Middle East, and New Zealand were included as part of our International Promotions Program. EURO MILLIONS is launching itsmodel computer balloting lottery draws, developed and designed to satisfy the cravings of the ever growing number of participants in our various lottery programs. This is a promotional draw which officially launches the new system. With funds accrued exclusively from previous draws, payouts to all winners are guaranteed and will be transferred in record time. After randomly selecting 40,000 by the help of our new Java-based software,participants from an initial Java-base of 300,000 emails and zoning all participants by their respective continents from across the globe, we produced an extensive list from which you have emerged as one of the lucky winners in the 2nd category of the Promotional Grand Draw prize.
Find below the contact details for the Courier Firm.You are advised to contact the Courier Company in twenty four hours for your certified cheque and for onward delivery to you.Contact details are:
Astral Courier Delivery Service.Customer Service: Mr. Kenneth White51 Douglas Avenue,Watford, HertfordshireWD24 7LU,United Kingdom.
E-mail: info_astralswiftscourierservices@yahoo.co.ukPhone Number: +44-701-112-0969+44 70457 08995
For further enquiries concerning your Lottery winnings,contact the British Gaming Board/Council:Dr. Connie KnightEmail: britishgamingboard@mail2london.com
Details of the contents of your parcel and the duration of the delivery will be communicated to you by the Courier Firm once you contact them.
NOTE: BENEFICIARIES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR TRANSFER CHARGES.
Sincerely,Peter Woles (Mr.)Tel: +44-702-409-5345+44 70457 06605
N.B: You are highly required to call the courier company to be updated at every single point in time because I will not be held responsible if anything goes wrong so I insist you call them immediately on receipt of this email. Be sure to update this office on the proceedings between you and the Courier Company, and also every mail you receive from the Company should also be sent to this Office.
===========================================================================
This email and its attachments are confidential and intended for the exclusive use of the addressee(s). This email and its attachments may also be privileged or protected by legal rules. If you have received this by mistake please let us know by reply immediately and destroy the email and its attachments without reading, copying or forwarding the contents.




Copyright (c) 2007 Euro Millions inc.

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam