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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
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• 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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "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!

Fraud email example:

From: Richard Morgan <richymorgan01@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 17 Jul 2007 05:54:39 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Payment Options!


FROM THE FIDUCIARY,
IRISH LOTTERY INT',
11 G Lower Dorset Street,
Dublin 1,
Ireland.
Mon.,17Th July,2007.

Att:Derik Bohmler,
We hereby inform You that We have processed Your payment and Your cheque is ready for disbursement.I have forwarded Your personal data's to the Irish lottery Commission for it to be included in its database.You are however to choose from these options below for a mode of remittance.However,You will be resposible for delivery charges,if You do not wish to come to Our office.

Option 1:
1.You come down to our office in Dublin to collect your certificate and also your certified bank cheque and take it to our payment center in person to redeem your winning sum.
ADDRESS OF OFFICE: 11 G Lower Dorset Street,Dublin 1, Ireland.

Option 2:
2. Employ the services of our affiliate courier company to courier your certificate and bank cheque to You,so that You can cash Your winning cheque in your local bank account.
Please note that option 2 will mean you are to shoulder the cost of courier as this is not our responsibility, though the courier service is affiliated to this lottery program they act independent of your winnings.Courier of your winning certificate and bank cheque is
via any of this channel listed below:
NOTE: That the Courier charges are little on the high side because of the insurance placed on your Winning Certificate and Cheque.This measure is to ensure safe delivery of your Winning Cheque and other documents to your delivery destination.

Options:3
You will be required to open an account with the paying Bank an initial deposit of one thousand pounds (1,000 pounds) in order for an account to be opened on your behalf. Your winnings will then be deposited in your newly opened account after which your winnings can be transferred to any account of your choice with out you paying for C.O.T your winning sum will be transferred to any account anywhere in the world. It is of utmost importance to note that your winnings have been placed under a hard cover insurance policy and deposited in a
suspense account in our bank; therefore, the charges cannot be deducted from your winnings.I hope you understand that this is strictly banking procedure and there is nothing that can be done about it. Do not hesitate to mail me for further clarifications
You are required to send to Us as soon as possible,these few information below:
(1.)The delivery option which You've chosen.
(2.)Your bank details(if You have chosen option 3, bank transfer.)

Sincerely,
Mr Paul Cadoza,
for Verifications Unit,
Irish Lottery



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam