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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:
  • "uk national lottery" (can only win this lottery if you bought a ticket)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "affidavit of claim" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. )
  • "payment for the courier" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. )
  • "your urgent reply" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "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.
  • +447045701803 (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.
  • parcelflight@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: PARCEL FLIGHT COURIER SERVICES <parcelflight@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2007 09:55:13 +0100 (BST)
Subject: KINDLY CHOOSE YOUR PREFERRED AND AFFORDABLE CLAIMS OPTION



PARCEL FLIGHT COURIER SERVICES,
125 Clapham High Street, SW4 7SN London,
United Kingdom.
FileRef: Fc/0001/x
Telephone: +44 70457 01803
Fax Number: +44 7075055952
Official Email: parcelflight@yahoo.co.uk
Date: 29th-August-2007


ATTN: Drud Herz,

You are welcome to PARCEL FLIGHT COURIER COMPANY, Dispatch LTD an affiliate of the UK NATIONAL LOTTERY, we are pleased to be at your service. This is the Delivery department of PARCEL FLIGHT COURIER COMPANY, We have here with us, your file stating full details of your award winning information from Sir. Newton Edmond, and we have been given instructions by the UK NATIONAL LOTTERY BOARD to deliver your winnings cheque/parcel to you as their registered courier company.

We have seen your approved Winning Contacy Code and your Ticket Numbers that shows you as one of the approved winner of the UK NATIONAL LOTTERY AWARD, as we are pleased to give you the information on how you can receive your winning funds without hesitation.

International express courier services were the first products to be offered by parcelflightflight, and have become the world renowned first choice of businesses both global and local.

We will send your consignments, whether they are express documents, small package express goods, or even pallet loads, swiftly, professionally and cost-effectively, door-to-door.

PARCEL FLIGHT is a service company and as such all services rendered must be paid for. Be informed that, the management of [UK NATIONAL LOTTERY BOARD] had insured your winning funds to the tune of its real value and as such no deduction can take place, hence the payment of our service charges by you becomes imperative.

The reason behind the insurance of your winning funds is for your own benefits, as past experiences indicates that some of our delivery agent took advantage of the deduction of charges to arbitrarily deduct money from award winner’s funds, hence, the issue of insurance.


Description of parcel to be delivered:

An original certificate of weight: -------------0.15kg
Bonded cheque of weight: -------------0.17kg
Affidavit of claims;-------------0.12
Total weight of parcel: -------------0.44kg
Colour of Parcel: -------------Brown


In light of the above, there are two options open to you, you are required to select the most convenient of the two.
=========================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================
OPTION 1 (courier delivery of winning cheque).

you are to choose from the following options which you will like to receive your winning cheque with us, you are to make your preferred and affordable choice from the three options with their associated cost attached below:

Delivery within 24 hours:
Courier charges ..............................150.00 Pounds (VAT inclusive)
Administrative ...............................339.00 Pounds
Insurance .....................................296.50 Pounds

TOTAL: 785.50 Pounds

Delivery within 48 hours:
Courier charges .............................102.00 Pounds (VAT inclusive)
Administrative ................................200.00 Pounds
Insurance .......................................278.40 Pounds

TOTAL: 598.40 Pounds

Delivery in 4 days:
Courier charges ..............................90.00 Pounds (VAT inclusive)
Administrative ...............................130.00 Pounds
Insurance .....................................208.00 Pounds

TOTAL: 428.00 Pounds

Delivery in 1 week:
Courier charges ..............................90.00 Pounds (VAT inclusive)
Administrative ...............................110.00 Pounds
Insurance .....................................200.00 Pounds

TOTAL: 400.00 Pounds

The insurance company declined reverse payment for the courier, stating that it is against their professional policy towards ensuring the safe delivery of the cheaque to you. That if a reverse payment is made, and something goes wrong, that we/you cannot sue the courier company or insurance company to recover the full value of the fund as stipulated in the cheaque since payment for insurance cover was not made at point of mailing. With the above reason, reverse payment is ruled out. Forward the cost of mailing your cheque with any of the courier channel cost you choose above to us.

============================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================
OPTION 2 (Bank transfer).

The said amount £864,008 ( Eight Hundred and Sixty -Four Thousand, and Eight British Pounds Sterlings) will be wired to your bank account via swift telegraphic bank transfer.

Condition: The cost of COT (commission of transfer) being charged by our transferring bank, which is £1,970 Pounds Sterlings will be paid by you before your winnings can be transferred to you.
=============================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================
*IMPORTANT*Please respond to this email by making a selection from the two options above.Let us know the option that you will want to use so that
we can send you the details on how to make the payment and commence the delivery or transfer of your winnings .

Also attach a scanned copy of either your driver's licence, international passport (photo page) or any other legally identifying document.


PARCEL FLIGHT, is committed to rendering qualitative services to you.

Your urgent reply will be most welcome. Feel free to call our customer care unit with the telephone number given above.

Yours faithfully,


Beckley White (Mr.)
Director Operations/logistics
PARCEL FLIGHT COURIER COMPANY





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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam