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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery 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:
  • "clear source of funds certificate" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
  • "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. 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.
  • +447045730784 (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.
  • skynetcourierserviceltd1@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: PEPSI LOTTERY 2007 <ppsprmtn_mrwilliampreacher@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 9 Jul 2007 01:53:39 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Contact SkyNet Courier Company For The Delivery Of Your Winning Cheque.


PEPSI INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY CLAIMS AND RELEASE DEPARTMENT.
GOVERNMENT ACCREDITED LICENSED!!!
PEPSI ONLINE INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY
IS REGISTERED UNDER THE DATA PROTECTION ACT OF;
(Registration U971133B).


FROM: Mr William Preacher.

SUBJECT: PAYMENT APPROVAL.

ATTN: Tugenda Theiss,

Congratulations from our entire staff.

We are glad to inform you that,we have duly completed our payout modalities,in line with your preferable mode of payment.We have signed all the necessary document with all the relevant authority.

We hereby officially inform you that, after all necessary modalities have being carried out we find you worthy of the winning amount of £1,750,000.00 GBP (One Million Seven Hundred And Fifty Thousand Pound sterling).Your prize-winning has been endorsed by The West Africa Gaming Board.

On that note the Lottery Corporation Payment Service (L.C.P.S) has issued and endorsed your winning cheque.You have been authorized to cash your cheque in your country,as soon as you receive it from the courier/dispatch company.To this end your cheque has been handed over to our affiliated Dispatch/Courier company for quick delivery to your destination(YOUR ADDRESS AS INDICATED IN THE CLAIMS FORM), as the lucky winner of category 2, with Ticket Number (7PWYZ2006),as you would advice.

A certificate of prize claims and your winnings cheque with some vital documents will be sent along side, by Skynet Courier Company to your home address.The documents to be sent are:

1.WINNING CERTIFICATE.
2.WINNERS CHEQUE.
3.CLEAR SOURCE OF FUNDS CERTIFICATES(C.S.F.C.)

You are hereby advised to make direct contact with the Dispatch/Courier company in West Africa, for the quick delivery of your cheque and some of your other relevant documents, such as your Clear Source Of Funds Certificates(C.S.F.C.) etc.


Find below the contact details of the Dispatch/Courier company.

SKYNET COURIER SERVICE AND DISPATCH COMPANY.
SkyNet Worldwide Express
234 Air Port Road,Benin City,EDO STATE.
WEST AFRICA / NIGERIA.
ZIP/CODE:23452
Contact Person.Mr Steven Phillip .
TELEPHONE: +44-704-573-0784
Email : skynetcourierserviceltd1@yahoo.co.uk
Web Site: www.skynet.net

You are adviced to send the courier company a mail to their email address for their delivery modalities.When contacting them,you are to include this order number as your subject.ORDER NUMBER:SNT/98046.


Please you are advised to write down the order number and save it.You are also required to send them your order number,it is in comfirmity for further verification of your claims before they can have your parcel posted to you.


You are to Quote your complete names,Ticket/Ballot Numbers and your direct phone number and your home address so that they can honour your letter. Once again i say congratulations and always inform us of your dealings with the dispatch/courier company. Most importantly, you will be responsible for the charges, for the delivery of your parcel,as we have earlier informed you.

Notice: You have being given 7(Seven)days ultimatum to receive your parcel, failure for you to comply, your cheque will be returned back to the issuing house, and subsequently you will end up losing your winnings/funds.Most importantly,you will be responsible for the delivery of your cheque. Please take note.

Congratulations once more our proud winner.Please do ensure that you put this money into good use.And we hope to meet you in the nearest future.



Yours Sincerely,
Mr William Preacher,
Foreign Services Manager,
Claims Processing And
Release Department,PEPSI International Lottery,
WEST AFRICA / NIGERIA.

COPYRIGHT © 2007 ALL RIGHT RESERVED



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam