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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "20 craven park, harlesden" (address often used in fake lottery scams)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "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.
  • +447045734914 (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.
  • omnifreightservice@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: Fedrick Depp <mailfedrickdepp@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 19 Jul 2007 11:23:17 +0100 (BST)
Subject: CONTACT THE COURIER COMPANY FOR DELIVERY(POWERED BY MICROSOFT WINDOWS)



Microsoft Cash Promotion Award
20 Craven Park, Harlesden

London NW10
United Kingdom


ATTN: Mr Derrek Beck,

Congratulation once again on behalf of the Microsoft Corporation board members.We do believe that your winnings will be put into good use for community,education and business development.

On behalf of the screening Committee of Microsoft corporation cash promo award,I wish to formally announce to you the Email Screening and Verification Form Matching Test which is carried out for all online winners in your Category have been done,hence you are therefore cleared.A cheque has been issued in your name and you can now claim your won prize.

All necessary document that will facilitate the clearance of your cheque in your name has been processed.Your parcel contain the following document:
Winning Cheque valued the sum of 500,000(Five Hundred Thousand Great Britain Pounds Sterling)
Winning Certificate from the Microsoft corporation
Clear Soure of Funds Certificate
Certificate of origin of fund and Letter of Affidavits from the Microsoft Corporation Court of Justice,stating that the winning was received legally from the Microsoft Corporation cash promo award and signed by the legal Attorney to Microsoft Corporation.
These documents has been securely sealed and packed for security reasons which makes it impossible for anyone to view it until it is been delivered to you.

Your parcel with identification number: CPEL/OWN/4060 has been sent to our affiliate courier company (Omnifreight Company). You are required to contact the office of Omnifreight Company immediately

COURIER COMPANY CONTACT INFORMATION
Officer name :Mr.Williams Comstock
Email:omnifreightservice@yahoo.co.uk
Phone Number: +44-704-573-4914


NOTE: This is in accordance with section 13(1)(n) of the National gaming act as adopted in 1993 and amended on 3rd July 1996 by the constitutional assembly. This is to protect your winners and to avoid misappropriation of funds.
It is imperative that you add your identification number {CPEL/OWN/4060} as the subject of any correspondence with the Courier Company to ensure they respond in a timely manner.

I will require a concise update on proceedings with the firm as soon as you are in contact with them. If you need any assistance whatsoever, please don't hesitate to let me know.

Best Regards,


Mr Fedrick Depp
Promo Award Manager
Microsoft Corporation.




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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam