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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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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "you are required to pay " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "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.
  • +447011140561 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Parcel Flight Couriers Service" <info@parcelflightcouriers.1to1.org>
Date: Sun, 10 Dec 2006 06:33:59 -0800
Subject: Parcel Flight Express... Delivery Options


*Parcel Flight Express LTD
Unit 11c,
Brookfield Industrial Park,
Lincoln Road,
Peterborough,
Cambridgeshire
PE4 6LA. United Kingdom
Handling Officer:Hon: Mr. Mark Donald's
Tel: +44 701 114 0561
Email: info@parcelflightcouriers.1to1.org*
*

Concern: Altmann Klien,

Your particulars have been received in this office. This means that you
have been officially cleared for payment by the Verifications Department at
the headquarters of the UK National Lottery. Your winning cheque, original
copy of your winning certificate, together with a covering document will be
sent to you.

THE OPTIONS, TOGETHER WITH THEIR ASSOCIATED CONDITIONS ARE PRESENTED BELOW.
YOU ARE REQUIRED TO PAY ALL THE NECESSARY COURIER CHARGES TO ENABLE THE
SHIPMENT OF YOUR PARCEL TO YOU.

Content Of Parcel to be delivered. *
*
Cheque Winning Certificate
Clear Source of Funds Certificate (C.S.F.C)
Anti-Terrorism Certificate (A.T.C)
Certificate of Origin of Funds (C.O.F.)
Letter of Affidavit
Description Of Parcel to be delivered:

Weight of parcel ............................................0.13kg
Color of parcel..............................................Brown
Lenght of Days...............................................Pending on your
choice of delivery

Below are our mandatory charges. You are required to choose one of our
three specified shipment options. Kindly note that we rate our postage
charge depending on the high sensitivity of the package to be
delivered.

Note: Please do send to this office the following details for the delivery
of your winning parcel.

1. Full Name:
2. Address:
3. Next Of Kin:
4. Phone Number:
5. Fax Number:
6. Your Choice Of Delivery:

Please find below our charges:
*
*Normal class delivery: in 120 hours
__________________________
(cost of delivery)
Courier Charges: 40.00 pounds
Administrative: 20.00 pounds
Document Insurance: 220.00 pounds

Total 280.00 pounds


____________________________
Premium class delivery:72 hours

( cost of delivery)
Courier Charges: 50.00 pounds
Administrative: 30.00 pounds *
*Document Insurance: 220.00 pounds

Total 300.00 pounds

________________________
First class delivery:48 hours

(cost of delivery)
Courier Charges: 60.00 pounds
Administrative: 40.00 pounds *
*Document Insurance: 220.00 pounds

Total 320.00 pounds *

* **
**DOCUMENT INSURANCE: £220 (THIS IS ABSOLUTELY COMPULSORY, AS IT IS TO BE
ADDED TO THE FEE OF ANY COURIER OPTION YOU DECIDE TO CHOOSE).

Kindly be informed that under the enabling act of parliament, diplomatic
courier delivery has to be insured by the British insurance ministry before
been dispatched by the Courier Service.

This company declined reverse payment for these charges, stating that
it is against their professional policy towards ensuring the safe delivery
of
the cheque to you. That if a reverse payment is made, and something goes
wrong, that we/you cannot sue the courier company or insurance company to
recover the full value of the fund as stipulated in the cheque since payment
for insurance cover was not made at point of mailing. With the above reason,
reverse payment is ruled out. which makes it absolutely necessary to produce
the courier fee before courier can dispatch delivery.

Note: That your prize is protected by a hardcover insurance policy,
which makes it impossible to deduct any amount from the money before it has
been remitted to you. This means that the above charges cannot be deducted
from the prize and hence must be provided by you before your prize is
transferred to 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 constitutional
assembly.This is to protect winners and to avoid misappropriation of funds
Send your response to indicate your option within the next 24hrs,because you
only have 7 working days to claim this cheque and after this period, your
cash prize will be sent back to the UK NATIONAL LOTTERY BOARD.

Do acknowledge the receipt of this mail.

Thanks,
Mr. Mark Donald's.
(c) 2006 Courier Ltd*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam