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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "deadline" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "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. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• 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.
  • +447031972005 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: Andrew Reid <andrew_reid30@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Fri, 29 Jun 2007 03:34:05 +0800 (CST)
Subject: CHECK DELIVERY.


Attn:Normand Urnerzer.
Courier Delivery of your certified cheque to you by mail.

There are three courier options open to you, you are required to select the option you can afford.

Note:The company will take care of the Insurance Fees for you but for
security purpose,you have to pay for the Courier Charges yourself before your prize money will be sent to you.

(1) UPS NORMAL DELIVERY(3working days) and additional charges for customs clearance, import/customs duties and taxes.
Amount: 840.00 pounds sterling

(2) UPS EXPRESS DELIVERY(next day) and additional charges for customs clearance, import/customs duties and taxes.
Amount: 1000 pounds sterling

(3) POST OFFICE MAIL (5working days) and additional charges for customs clearance, import/customs duties and taxes.
Amount: 780.00 pounds sterling.

Forward to us any of the options you prefer.

Note:your prize is protected by a hardcover insurance policy, which makes it impossible to deduct any amount from the money before it is 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.

Do note that the deadline for the claiming of your prize money is exactly two weeks after the receipt of the winning notification email. After this period, your prize money will be deemed to have been forfeited by you and will be reused in the drawings of the next edition of the lottery.

Congratulations and have a nice day.
REGARDS,
MR ANDREW REID.
# 195 EDGWARE ROAD,
LONDON,W2 1EY.
UNITED KINGDOM.
Tel:+447031972005.
Tel:+447031970061.
Fax:+442081816199.


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam