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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
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• 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:
  • "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!
• Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
• MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.

Fraud email example:

From: "james" <scarletcourier_world@excite.com>
Date: Thu, 18 Jan 2007 10:55:04 -0500 (EST)
Subject: CHOOSE OPTION OF THE DELIVERY OF YOUR WINNING PARCEL


Scarlet Courier LTD.Slough Head Office &amp; Accounts658 Ajax Avenue Slough, Berkshire.SL1 4BG








ATT:Winner

The original copy of your winning certificate, together with a covering document (Money Laundering protection and Letter of Affidavit for Claims) from the British government stating that the money was obtained legally through the UK NATIONAL LOTTERY will be sent to you as soon as you meet with any of the options selected.
You can now begin the final step of the claims process, which is the transferring of your cash prize to you. With regards to this, there are three options open to you, you are required to select the most convenient of the three.

The options, together with their associated conditions are presented below:

Courier of your winning Cheque via any of these options listed below:


OVERNIGHT DELIVERY Mailing: £250.00Insurance: £200.00Vat: £100.00TOTAL: £550.00


48 HOURS DELIVERYMailing: £100.00Insurance: £100.00Vat: £300.00TOTAL: £400.00 72 HOURS DELIVERYMailing: £130.00Insurance: £100.00Vat: £70.00TOTAL: £300.00 BANK TO BANK TRANSFER: £1500 pounds
Note: The charges cannot be Deducted from your winnings. 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 and win and win Situations.

Please respond to this email by making a selection from the three options above so that We can send you the details of our account officer whom you can make the payment to either by Western Union Money Transfer or Money Gram Transfer Service.

Send your response to indicate your option within the next 24hrs, because you only have 10 working days to claim this cheque and after this period, your cash prize will be deemed to have been forfeited by you and will be reused in the drawings of the next edition of the lottery.

Once again, Congratulations.

Treat with dispatch,Yours Faithfully
David Delham.Customer Service.

David Delham
Customer Service



ScarLet Courier LTD, Registered in England No 929027. Registered Office: 135 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 3UR.Regulated by the Financial Service Authority

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam