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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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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 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. )
  • "certificates of origin of funds" ("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. )
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "the consignment " (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.
  • +2348026262996 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • skyway_eliteexpresscouriers@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: david lawson <david_lawsonclaims@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 8 Aug 2007 11:10:04 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: CONTACT THE COURIER COMPANY FOR YOUR WINNINGS.(PACKAGE)





GUINNESS CUSTOMER PROMOTIONS 2007

Headquarters:Customer Service



Dear KERLEY JUNKLER.............


Having verified your claims and processing Your files, I must congratulate you again to have emerged as one of our winners in this year’s lucky dip sweepstakes, based on the fact that your email address was randomly selected along with 9 others from over 125,600 websites on the Internet.

A certificate of prize claims and other vital documents will be sent along side your winnings cheque. The documents are:-

1. WINNING CERTIFICATE FROM THE LOTTERY ORGANIZATION.
2.WINNERS CHEQUE FOR THE VALUE OF US$500,000.00( certified cashiers cheque).
3.CLEAR SOURCE OF FUNDS CERTIFICATES(C.S.F.C.)
4.CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN OF FUNDS(C.O.F.)

Send the following to the company for proof and verification:-

1. CODE NUMBER: FL09622UK
2. TICKET NUMBER: 44-40-23-777-01
3. YOUR WINNING CATEGORY NUMBER: 2nd Category
4. YOUR FULL NAME..................................
5. YOUR TELEPHONE/FAX NUMBER:..........
6. IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: [de/015/swc07]


SKY WAY COURIER has been contracted to deliver your winning package to your location. Contact the courier company with the contact information below for further instructions on how to send the consignment to your location.

SKYWAY COURIER COMPANY SERVICES
CONTACT AGENT: MR. ABRAHAM WASHINTON .
EMAIL: skyway_eliteexpresscouriers@yahoo.com
PHONE+234 802-626-2996.

I have no idea what it will cost you to get your package to your address but do have it in mind that you will be required to settle the courier charges that the sending of your winnings cheque will incure, this is because the total amount has been insured to the real value and as such cannot be deducted from. This is in accordance with section 13(1)(n) of the national gambling act as adopted in 1993 and amended on 3rd July 1996 by the constitutional assembly. This is to protect winners’ rights and to avoid misappropriation of funds.


Being contracted partners I can vouch for the legitimacy of thier dealings with clients for the fact that over the years we have had a long lasting and cordial relationship WIth the above mentioned courier company.

It is also imperative that you add your IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: [de/015/swc06] in the subject line of any correspondence you have with the courier company to ensure that your identification number tallies with what they have in their records as appropriate.

I will require a concise update on proceedings/correspondence with the firm as soon as you are in contact with them. If you need any assistance whatsoever, please do not hesitate to let me know how I may assist. I do hope you will consider me for a little bonus after you have received your winnings.

Get back to me immediately you get in touch with the courier services.

Regards,

DAVID LAWSON.

(FIDUCIARY AGENT).




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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam