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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:
  • "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)
• 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.
  • +447031911621 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +448700686942 (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.
  • itscourierservice@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Larry Bishop" <info_camelotagent@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 02 Mar 2006 11:15:59 +0000
Subject: CLAIMS PROCESS[REF NO: MELI-T/17-F044262312]


ATTENTION: SIBONGILE MAUREEN MDLETSHE,

Thank you for your quick response to my mail. 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.
Please expect of the sum THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND POUNDS STERLING which you
would be delivered to you instalmentally for the next ten months. This will
be ready for pick up as soon as the claims verification process is
completed. The cheque will be delivered via our affiliate courier company,
ITSCOURIERS LONDON as soon as all the necessary paper work is completed.
This should be in another twenty four hours.

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. CAMELOT UNIVERSAL
PROMOTIONS is launching its model computer balloting lottery draws,
developed and designed to satisfy the cravings ofthe evergrowing 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 randomlyselecting 15,000 partic ipants
from an initial database 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 winners 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.

Mr. Collins Khan
Customer service/Support
ITSCOURIERS LONDON
Telephone:+44 703 1911 621
Fax: +44 870 0686 942
E-mail: itscourierservice@yahoo.co.uk

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. (You are
to keep me fully informed on all developments.)

NOTE: BENEFICIARIES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR TRANSFER CHARGES.

Sincerely,
Mr. Larry Bishop,
Camelot Universal Promos.

===========================================================================
This email and its attachments are confidential and intended for the
exclusive use of theaddressee(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.

_________________________________________________________________
Are you using the latest version of MSN Messenger? Download MSN Messenger
7.5 today! http://messenger.msn.co.uk


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam