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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:

• 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.
  • +447011129224 (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.
  • gexpress_courieruk@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: msword lottery <msword@msword1.orangehome.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 3 Oct 2006 17:37:59 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: msword lottery 5.5 million pounds (are you claiming OR not)


Dear Winner,

Please be advised that this will be the last chance given to you by the MS-WORD LOTTERY ORGANISATION to reclaims your winnings.

You are to be aware that we the Ms-Word Mega Jackpot Lottery want to round up all claims process for this year because we want to start
another lottery program for the remaining part of the year.

You are advised to contact us within the next 48hrs letting us know if you still interested in claiming your winnings. Be also advised that If you
have not contacted our affiliate courier firm for the delivery of your winnings of 5.5 million pounds, you are to contact the immediately (i.e. if
you are still interested in claiming your prize).
Below are their contact details:

GLOBAL COURIER EXPRESS
DIRECTOR : DAVID BROWN
Phone : +447011129224
Fax : +44-672-7676352
E-mail : gexpress_courieruk@yahoo.com

Details of the required cost will be communicated to you by the courier firm once you contact them, Do contact them via the two email addresses
above. You are to keep me fully informed on all developments.

Also try to understand thate our affiliate courier firm are one of the Chief sponsors of the lottery you have won so therefore you have to make
use of their services.

Its a chance to became a millionaire. Consider yourself lucky to have won in our annual Mega Jackpot Lottery.

BE AWARE THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY OUR AFFILIATE COURIER FIRM AT LEAST $1,000 FOR THE DELIVERY OF YOUR PARCEL.
They do not deliver parcels on COD.

Thanks for your anticipated response.

Regards,
MS-WORD LOTTERY.
NB:
Please be advised that if you still think this is a scam/fraud to get money from you, please do not respond to this mail.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam