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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:

• 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:
  • "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "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 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.
  • diplomatic_co_uk@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Robert Kings" <uklot25005@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 26 Aug 2007 14:33:56 +0000
Subject: Contact The Courier Company

Attn: Ms Nordika Pabsthagen,

The result of our computer draw (1152) selected your email address attached to e-ticket number: 56475600545 188 with Serial number 5368/02 drew the lucky numbers: 15. 25. 29. 35. 39. 40 (Bonus no.11), which subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category i.e. match 5 plus bonus. You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of £2,500,000.00 (Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Pounds Sterling) in cash credited to file BNKJ/1740161514/03.
 
Your claim processing has been completed and your claim file compiled and submitted to the gaming board who has issued the paying bank your payout order for the payment of your winning which you have won in the just concluded lottery award.
 
The paying bank has issued out a cheque on your behalf and you are to receive this cheque in your home address which you have provided previously during the claim processing. The cheque will be delivered to you through a diplomatic courier company.
 
For reference you are required to contact the courier company to inquire about the status of your claim via this contact detail:
 
Diplomatic Logistic Securities
Suite 110/Station Rd Edgware, HA8 7JS
London.
Contact Person :Mc Donalds James.
Phone 070331921413
Email: diplomatic_co_uk@yahoo.co.uk
 
Congratulations once again and keep us informed when you receive your cheque.
 
Thanks.
 
Robert Kings.

 

 

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam