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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:
  • "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.
  • +447045714036 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "UK LOTTERY DEPT" <atkinsonisonlineclaimsagent01@googlemail.com>
Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2007 21:08:40 +0100
Subject: Contact Courier Company For Your Parcel: Order Number: D562725


*UK National Lottery
12 Bridge Street,
Stains Middlesex TW18 4TP,
United Kingdom.

Ref: UK/9420X2/68
Batch: 074/05/ZY369*

Attention: Winner

Be confident in our remittance method as the TNT Courier Company
Agency will effectively deliver your package with a comprehensive
insurance cover that has been undertaken to guarantee the safe
delivery of your winning cheque to your address in record time. The
parcel will be delivered by the TNT Courier Company which is our
courier affiliate. The courier charges are inclusive of a
comprehensive insurance coverage and an administrative fee, which are
mandatory to be paid by all winners. You are required to contact the
officer in charge at the courier company Mr. Mark Brown.

*Find his contact
below:*********************************************************
TNT COURIER SERVICE
ADDRESS OF HEAD OFFICE: Victoria House 144-146 Boddingtons LaneCorydon
CR0 4TD United Kingdom
Name: MR. MARK BROWN. (Dispatch officer)
Email: dispatch.officer01@uktntcourier.com
Tel: +44 704 571 4036
********************************************************
Your Parcel containing your winning cheque and original copy of your
certified lottery winning certificate has been dispatched to the
courier company for onward delivery to your named address for
immediate delivery of your parcel; you are to contact the courier
company with the following information.

1. Full Names.
2. Address where you would want the parcel delivered to.
3. Phone and fax numbers.
4. Sex:
5. Your Order Number:
6. Your Email:

You are advised to send the courier company a mail to their email
address for their courier cost. When contacting them, you are to
include this order number as your subject. Please you are advised to
write down the order number and save it.

ORDER NUMBER: D562725

Best Regards,
Mr. Walter Atkinson

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam