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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:
  • "tax clearance" (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "fiduciary 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.
  • +447024092247 (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.
  • cityexpresscourier_2010@yahoo.co.uk
  • cityexpresscourier2001@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: macknightlotto2@netscape.net
Date: Tue, 27 Jun 2006 15:53:25 -0400
Subject: CONTACT THE COURIER COMPANY



Dear VICTIM-FULLNAME,
How are you doing today?
I am in reciept of your mail and i must say that you should count yourself
extremely lucky to have emerged as one of our winners in this years lucky dip
sweepstakes.As you already know your email address was randomly selected along
with others from over 125,600 websites on the internet. Each email address was
attached to a ticket number. Your email address was selected along with nine
others as winners of 2.5million usd each.A certificate of prize claims and
some vital documents will be sent along side your winnings cheque.The
documents to be sent are;

1.WINNING CERTIFICATE FROM UK LOTTERY SWEEPSTAKE PROMOTIONS.
2.WINNERS CHEQUE FOR THE VALUE OF 2.5 MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLARS.
3.TAX CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE.
4.CLEAR SOURCE OF FUNDS CERTIFICATES(C.S.F.C.);and
5.CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN OF FUNDS(C.O.F.).

CITY EXPRESS COURIER SERVICES LTD,being the pay house has been given the order to pay you.This payment will be inform of a cheque payable to you this will be backed up by the documents stated above.Contact the finance house at once for further instructions on how to deliver the consignment to your location.

CITY EXPRESS COURIER SERVICES LTD
CONTACT AGENT:PETER WALES
EMAIL ADDRESS:cityexpresscourier_2010@yahoo.co.uk
:cityexpresscourier2001@yahoo.com
Phone number:+447024092247

Have it in mind that you will be required to settle the charges which
the sending of your winnings cheque will incure, this is because the total
amount has been insured to the real value and as such cannot be deducted from.
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 constitutional assembly.
This is to protect winners and to avoid misappropriation of funds.Its is
imperative that you add your IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS{CTEX/OWN/9876} as the
subject of any correspondence with the courier 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.And i do hope you will consider me for a little bonus
after you have recieved your winnings.

Regards,
Charles Macknight.
FIDUCIARY AGENT


PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU ARE TO CONTACT THE COURIER COMPANY WITH YOUR FULL NAMES AND ADDRESS.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam