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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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:
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "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 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.
  • oversea_courier@hotmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: Claims Department <netonlineloto@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 8 Jun 2007 17:21:56 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Re: Verified winning of email:KarlHochma218@mozar Good news!


NET ON-LINE LOTTERY CORPORATION UK

28, TANFEILD ROAD
CROYDON LONDON.
8th June, 2007.


Winning parameter
Draw number: 53Q8/02.

Attn: Ms Hochmacher,

This is to formally inform you that after the verification process conducted by the Administrative Department (Lottery Board), you have been cleared to claim your winning prize which has been forwarded to our affiliate Courier Company, Oversea Courier Services for delivery.

Please you are advised to write down the order number and save it for future reference.

ORDER NUMBER: FOLB/UK/057252.

You are to quote your complete Names, and your direct phone number to the contact person below to enable him honor your mail. Feel free to inform me your dealings with the courier company should incase any delay. But you shall bear the cost of courier delivery of your cheque and Prize Winning Certificate. It is necessary that you formally notify him that you want your winnings cheque along with the winnings certificate deliver to you and what it will cost you.


Oversea Courier Services
Contact person: Tim Paul OKeeffe (Dispatch Officer)
Email address: oversea_courier@hotmail.com
Tel: (44) 703 194 8027.

Ensure you give the correct address you want the parcel delivered to.

Your courier charges cannot be deducted from your winnings due to Insurance policy and Article 1186 section 45 subsection 2.3 of Constitution of the United Kingdom as relates to Financial and freight matters which are duly codified in the UNITED KINGDOM LAW.

Congratulations once again.

Best wishes,

Mr.Michael Watson,
(Fiduciary Agent)
CLAIMS DEPARTMENT.
COPYRIGHT ?2007 ALL RIGHT RESERVED.



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam