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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "netherlands gaming board"
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • ",000,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "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.
  • +447045720537 (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.
  • tnt_services1@yahoo.de (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: SEAN THOMPSON <info_seanthompson44@yahoo.de>
Date: Sat, 4 Aug 2007 23:18:33 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: CONTACT OUR ASSIGNED COURIER SERVICE FOR FAST DELIVERY


POWERBALL LOTTO. BV
POWERBALL-WHEEL E-GAME 2007.


INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION PROGRAM
REF: PBL/CN/6654/CP

ATTN: Winner,

PENDING CLAIMS PROCESS COMPLETED.
In regards to your pending claim processing, your prize-winning certificate had been endorsed by The Netherlands Gaming Board. We have forwarded for courier delivery the following items,

1) Award Prize (Original Copy)
2) Official Letter of Winning Notification
3) A Cashier Cheque of cash value US $ 1,000,000 (Issued for claims by only your Name)

The Powerball Inter Lotto BV has officially approved the "TNT COURIER SERVICE" an international courier company to carryout direct delivery of your winnings to your address. The courier contact are issued below:

TNT COURIER SERVICE
TEL/FAX: +447045720537.
Correspondence: Michael Smith (Customer Service)
E-mail: tnt_services1@yahoo.de

You are hereby advised to make direct contact with the above courier company, for further processes and to facilitate the immediate delivery approval of your consolation cash prize.

PLEASE NOTE: NON-RESIDENT OF THE NETHERLANDS ARE TO BORNE EXPENSES FOR THEIR COURIER DELIVERY.

In furtherance,please update this office with your current status for subsequent development in regards to this pending claim exercise and NOTE:You must fill and submit this Non Resident Claims Form to the courier company when you contact them.

This correspondence officially confirms that we are in receipt of instructions relating to the payment of your lottery winnings. Provided in attachment is a Non resident claims form you are required to completely fill the claims form with your correct information and submit same. We look forward to the receipt of your information.

FULLNAMES:........................................................................
FORWARDING ADDRESSES:.............................................................
CITY/STATE:..........................COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:.................
MARITAL STATUS:.......................NATIONALITY:...............................
SEX..........INTENATIONAL PASSPORT NR:..........................DATE OF BIRTH:................
EMAIL:.............................OCCUPATION:................................
TEL/FAX:.....................................
CLAIMANT SIGNATURE:........................................


Congratulations once again on your winning,


Yours Faithfully,
Mr.Sean Thompson,
(DPU Information Officer)


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam