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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 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:
  • "clearance document" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. )
  • "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "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.
  • +447031954390 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +448704795034 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Account Director" <accountdir-natw1@excite.com>
Date: Fri, 13 Jul 2007 20:36:02 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Attention: Nation Wide Bank Types Of International Account (Choose 1)


Nationwide Bank Of England 1 Kings Park Road, Moulton Park, Northampton NN3 6NW, London, England Fax: +44-870-479-5034 Attention: Jorge Luis Mendez, You are welcome to NATIONAL WIDE BANK &amp; SECURITIES an affiliate of the UK National Lottery we are pleased to be at your service. NATIONAL WIDE BANK &amp; SECURITIES is regulated and Stipulated by the Financial Service Authority (FSA), the financial institutions that govern all financial activities in the United Kingdom. Your prize money (£891,934.00 pounds sterlings) from the UK National Lottery Board is in cheque form, it has to be deposited in an active account to be able to transfer to your nominated account, otherwise known as initial deposit.In the light of the above explanation you are to choose from the following types of international account options which you will like to receive your funds with, as you are to make your preferable and affordable choice from the three options. Please
note that any sum paid for account opening will be credited to your total funds. Option (1) Bank To Bank Transfer: This is the Direct Bank Transfer that will enable You receive the sum of money in any account that you will provide for this Bank to effect the transfer as it is always done electronically as it will TAKE 3 WORKING DAYS to Reflect In The account that you will provided. Account Opening:..........200 Pounds Vat:.................150Pounds Insurance:..............200 Pounds Total:.................550 Pounds) Option (2) Bank Account Opening: You will have to open a New Bank account here and it Will be registered for International Transfer and Note that you can make Transfer Online as it will take 24Hours to get the account done. NOTE: PREMIUM ACCOUNT Account Opening:..........230 Pounds Vat:..............150 Pounds Insurance:................200 Pounds Total:..............580Pounds.) Option (3) Check Transfer Options: You will have to receive a Certified Check of
£891,934.00 pounds starlings in its full value of your winnings and approved Clearance Documents, and that will take 3 WORKING DAYS to deliver to your Address that you will provide to this office as we will have to Use diplomatic courier service COURIER COMPANY to deliver the Parcel to your address. Post Fee:............170 Pounds Vat:...........150 Pounds Insurance:...........300 Pounds Total:.........(620 Pounds.) Respond to this email by making a selection from the (3) options above. Let us know the option that you will want to use, so that we can send you the details of our account officer to enable you make the payment and as to commence the release of your funds immediately. Also attach a copy of your international passport (photo page), or (driver's license) NATIONAL WIDE BANK &amp; SECURITY is committed to rendering qualitative services. Note: Funds paid for account opening will be added to the total sum of winning and also know that your funds are protected by a
hardcover insurance policy, which makes it impossible to deduct any amount from the money before it can be remitted to you. We look forward to respond to your option as soon as possible. Faithfully, Mr. Larry Vincent Tel: +44-703-195-4390Fax: +44-870-479-5034Accounts Director, NATIONAL WIDE BANK &amp; SECURITIES.

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam