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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
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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)
  • "deadline" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "vat (5%)" (VAT is 17.5% in the UK but 5% in Nigeria)
  • "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "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. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. )
• 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.
  • +447031942003 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: MR ALEX BUTT <omniexpresscouriers@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 17 May 2007 04:46:34 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Choose An Option Of Delivery






OMNI FREIGHT
An International Courier Company
Since 1996 Our Reputation For Services and Savings is Our Most Valued Asset

17th May, 2007
Reg Order No: SH231282
ATTENTION: Mr Hubert Schaefmacher,

I receive your mail with delightness.All that is required from you now is to go ahead and pick an option of delivery that will be convinient for you to effect the courier charges presented below:


------------------------------PACKAGE DETAILS-----------------------------

(1) An International Cashier cheque of £ 600,000.00 GB Pounds Sterlings
(2) Hard copy of your Winning Certificate.
(3) Hard copy of Money Laundering protection and Letter of Affidavit for Claims.

Below are the mandatory Administrative Charges that you are required to pay to enable us courier these documents to your destination.



--------------------------------------- DELIVERY OPTIONS---------------------------------------

INTERNATIONAL (Express Delivery)
Delivery in approximately 2-5 working days.
80% of USA packages delivered next day - not guaranteed.
New York & New Jersey by 10.30am next working day guaranteed.
An original certificate of weight.....0.7 Grams
Total weight of parcel................1.32 Grams
Colour of parcel......................Brown
Flight; ..............................£ 100.00
Insurance.............................£ 771.00
Vat (5%)..............................£ 019.00
TOTAL.................................£ 890.00

ECONOMY (5-7Days Delivery)
Delivery in approximately 5-7 days depending on destination - not guaranteed.
An original certificate of weight.....0.7 Grams
Total weight of parcel................1.32 Grams
Colour of parcel......................Brown
Mailing...............................£ 020.00
Insurance.............................£ 431.00
Vat (5%)..............................£ 019.95
TOTAL.................................£ 465.95

SAMEDAY Expedited
Delivery in approximately 2-3 working days.
80% of USA packages delivered next day - not guaranteed.
New York & New Jersey by 10.30am next working day guaranteed.
An original certificate of weight.....0.7 Grams
Total weight of parcel................1.32 Grams
Colour of parcel......................Brown
Mailing...............................£ 020.00
Insurance.............................£ 734.00
Vat (5%)..............................£ 019.75
TOTAL.................................£ 773.75

NEXT DAY Document Express
Delivery in approximately 2-3 working days.
80% of USA packages delivered next day - not guaranteed.
New York & New Jersey by 10.30am next working day guaranteed.
This service is for documents only.
An original certificate of weight.....0.7 Grams
Total weight of parcel................1.32 Grams
Colour of parcel......................Brown
Mailing...............................£ 020.00
Insurance.............................£ 634.00
Vat (5%)..............................£ 019.75
TOTAL.................................£ 673.75


POST OFFICE MAIL Import Services
We can arrange imports from any country in the world to the UK.
An original certificate of weight.....0.7 Grams
Total weight of parcel................1.32 Grams
Colour of parcel......................Brown
Mailing...............................£ 018.00
Insurance.............................£ 323.00
Vat (5%)..............................£ 019.95
TOTAL.................................£ 360.95

Note that your prize is protected by a hardcover insurance policy by GEO-TRUST INSURANCE COMPANY, 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.

Also attach a scanned copy of either your driver's license, international passport (photo page) or any other legally identifying document.

Also be reminded that the deadline for the claiming of winnings is exactly two weeks after the receipt of this email. 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.

Good luck and Congratulations once again. Please send your response within the next 24hrs to this same email address.

Mr. Alex Butt (dispatch officer),
Omni Freight Express Courier
Building 219 Epsom Square,
Hounslow Middlesex, TW6 2DG London.
Tel: +44-703-194-2003
+44-701-421-6687
Fax: +44-709-288-9285
Open 7days-24hrs-365days a year

---------------------------------

CONFIDENTIAL NOTICE: This email message, including any attachments, is intended only for the use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain information that is privileged, confidential and prohibited from unauthorized disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient of this message, any dissemination, distribution or copying of this message is strictly prohibited. If you received this message in error, please notify the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.

---------------------------------

Copyright © 1996 - 2007 Omni Freight Courier®,Inc. All rights reserved. Terms of Service - Guidelines

OMNI FREIGHT COURIER -The Best of British Services
Copyright © 1996 - 2007 Omni Freight Courier®, Inc.


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam