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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:
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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:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "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.
  • +447024094031 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +448704781677 (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.
  • fivewayscourierexpres@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: Claim Agent <btllclaimsagent@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sun, 7 May 2006 17:52:00 +0100 (BST)
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!


BRITISH LOTTERY HEADQUARTERS
Customer Service
28 TANFIELD ROAD,
CROYDON.LONDON
Ref:BTL/491oX1/04
Batch: 12/25/0340
Date: 7/5/2006
ATTENTION: Johi Harlow,
CONGRATULATIONS! This is to inform you that you have been cleared a winner of the BRITISH LOTTERY International program. I am happy to inform you that i have forwarded your Original Certificate and your Certified bank cheque to the courier company. Find below the details of the courier company.
FIVEWAYS COURIER EXPRESS LTD
ADDRESS: Victoria House, 144-146,
Beddington Lane Croydon, CR0
4TD, ENGLAND, United Kingdom.

Mr.Alex Peterson(dispatch officer)
Management
FIVEWAYS COURIER EXPRESS LTD.
Email: fivewayscourierexpres@yahoo.co.uk
Tel: +44-702-409-4031
Tel: +44-702-409-4036

Fax: +44-870-478-1677
You are adviced to send the courier company a mail to their email address for their courier cost of delivering your winning prize to the payment centre. When contacting them,you are to include this order number as your subject.Please you are adviced to write down the order number and save it.
ORDER NUMBER: SH231282
Note: you are to Quote your complete names,Ref/Batch Numbers and your direct phone number so that they can honour your letter also do keep me updated with your communications with the courier company.
Once again i say congratulations and always inform me with your dealings with the courier company.
Thanks.
Warm Regards,
Mr Terri Martins
Claims Agent.
Tel: +44-702-305-5136
Tel: +44-703-192-6253
Tel: +44-703-192-6255
Fax: +44-870-478-1711
BRITISH INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY
COPYRIGHT © 2006 ALL RIGHT RESERVED.

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam