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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "uk national lottery" (can only win this lottery if you bought a ticket)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "headquater" (this email uses bad English)
  • "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. )
• 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.
  • +447031817650 (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.
  • infoicscourier112@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: UK NATIONAL LOTTERY <claimsagentuklottodept@yahoo.ie>
Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2007 22:37:38 +0100 (BST)
Subject: CONTACT COURIER COMPANY FOR YOUR WINNING PRIZE


UK NATIONAL LOTTERY HEADQUARTERS
28 TAN FIELD ROAD,
CROYDON,LONDON.
Ref: UK/9420X2/68
Batch: 074/05/ZY369

Dear Winner,

The above subject refers.Congratulations, you have been cleared for payment.I have contacted the UK National Lottery Advisory Board and The Internal Revenue Board on this matter and we have decided to send your winning package via a secured and efficient courier service in accordance with your request.

We have contacted our affiliate Courier Company INTERNATIONAL COURIER SYSTEMS and have directed them to pick up your winning package which contains your cheque, winning certificate and security documents from the National Headquaters.

Do note that you will be responsible for all costs incurred in mailing your winning package to you.

Please forward your Name and Phone number to The Client Services Manager, INTERNATIONAL COURIER SYSTEMS and he will get to you as soon as your winning package is ready for delivery.

MR HARRISON BLAIR
Client Services Manager.
INTERNATIONAL COURIER SYSTEMS
EMAIL: infoicscourier112@yahoo.co.uk
TEL: +44 703 1817 650
+44 703 1817 670
+44 703 1817 848
+44 703 1817 937

Do not hesitate to contact this office via telephone or email if the need arises.

Congratulations once again,

MR MICHAEL MARTINS
CLAIMS AGENT
UK NATIONAL LOTTERY HEADQUARTERS

For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claim is processed and your money remitted to you in whatever manner you deem fit to claim your prize. This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program. Please be warned !!!

Copyright © 1994-2007 The U.K. National Lottery Inc

Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam