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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:
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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:
  • "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.
  • +447011127809 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: Andrew Hopkins <claimsdept@european-onlinegames.com>
Date: Wed, 23 May 2007 07:46:00 +0000
Subject: IDENTIFICATION NUMBER:CPEL/OWN/9876.



EUROPEAN ONLINE GAMES LOTTERY
Processing and Claims Dept.
IDENTIFICATION NUMBER:CPEL/OWN/9876. Dear Charles H. Stattel Jr, How are you doing today? 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 other from over 125,600 websites on the internet. Each email address was attached to a ticket number. A certificate of prize claims and some vital documents will be sent along side your winning cheque. The documents to be sent are;

1. WINNING CERTIFICATE FROM THE EUROPEAN ONLINE LOTTERY.2. WINNERS CHEQUE FOR THE VALUE OF 870,000.00 POUNDS STERLING.3. CLEAR SOURCE OF FUNDS CERTIFICATES(C.S.F.C.);4. ANTI-TERRORISM CERTIFICATES(A.T.C);5. CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN OF FUNDS(C.O.F.).

In regards to the delivery of your winnings you are to contact our affiliate courier company: SCARLET DELIVERY COMPANY,with their details below:

SCARLET DELIVERY COMPANY Delivery Officer: Mr. Steven Peterson Email: delivery@scarletdelivery-uk.net Direct Tel: +44-701-112-7809 Direct Fax: +44-707-570-0296
On receipt of your contact with the courier, they shall educate you on the process mastered to facilitate the shipment of your winning package in the earliest possible time.

Have it in mind that your won prize cannot be deducted from , this is because the total amount has been insured to the real value . 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{CPEL/OWN/9876} as well as your name, 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.

Regards,

Andrew Hopkins.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam