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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:

• 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:
  • "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. )
  • "insurance fee " (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. )
  • "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "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!
• Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.

Fraud email example:

From: GOLDSTAR INTERNATIONAL <goldstar.express@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2007 13:28:22 -0600
Subject:








Attention: Geraldina Probstmacher, Congratulations, I have been informed by the UK NATIONAL LOTTERY to contact you and anticipate your message as we have been assigned to handle the Delivery of your Parcel.

The following documents are contained in your sealed parcel as informed by the authorities of the UK National Lottery. 1. CHEQUE VALUED THE SUM OF US £250,000.002. AWARD CERTIFICATE FROM THE UK NATIONAL LOTTERY3. CLEAR SOURCE OF FUNDS CERTIFICATES(C.S.F.C.)4. LETTER OF AFFIDAVITS FROM THE BRITISH HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE, STATING THAT THE FUNDS WAS RECEIVED LEGALLY FROM THE UNIVERSAL AWARD PROGRAMME, AND DUELY SIGNED BY THE LEGAL ATTORNEY TO UK NATIONAL LOTTERY. These documents have been securely sealed and packaged for security reasons which makes it impossible for anyone to view it until it has been delivered to you. Find below our delivery options which you are required to choose the one that is most convinient to you. 48 Hours Delivery ServicesCost of deliveryMailing: £240.00 Pounds Sterlings insurance £650.00 EQUIVALENT TO £890 Pounds Sterlings

72 Hours Delivery ServicesCost of deliveryMailing: £120.00 Pounds Sterlinginsurance £600.00 EQUIVALENT TO £720 Pounds Sterlings


84 Hours Delivery ServicesCost of deliveryMailing: £70.00 Pounds Sterlinginsurance £550.00 EQUIVALENT TO £620 Pounds Sterlings NOTE: THE INSURANCE FEE IS ABSOLUTELY COMPULSORY, AND MUST BE PAID VIA WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER BEFORE THE SHIPMENT OF YOUR PARCEL, WHILE THE MAILING FEE SHOULD BE MADE ON A CASH ON DELIVERY BASES(C.O.D) TO THE DELIVERY AGENT THAT WILL DELIVER YOUR PARCEL TO YOUR DOORSTEP). Due to the diplomatic content of your parcel, it will be illegal to ship it without being insured as it will violate the federal delivery rules governing diplomatic parcel delivery. This means payment for the insurance fee must be made before shipment to avoid risk. This is because of some bad experience we had in the past. We can not afford to re-issue your cheque if anything goes wrong. In this case payment for the insurance fee is absolutely compulsory, while the mailing fee should be paid to any of the above listed delivery company you choose at the point of delivery. Note: that your prize is protected by a hardcover insurance policy, UNDERTAKEN BY THE COVERSURE INSURANCE SERVICES LTD. HERE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM which makes it impossible to deduct any amount from the prize before remittance. This means that the above insurance charges cannot be deducted from the prize and hence must be provided by you before your parcel is shipped. This is in accordance with section 13(1)(n) of the international Lottery act as adopted in 1993 and amended on 3RD July 1996 by the constitutional assembly. This is to protect receipients and to avoid misappropriation of funds. YOU ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: (1.)Your chosen option.(2.)Attach a scanned copy of either of your driver's license, international passport (photo page) or any other document which legally identifies you. This is to guard against impersonation and for proper documentation purposes. Having done this, you will be given proper guidelines on how insurance payments are effected via Western Union Money Transfer/Money Gram by winners.Upon the confirmation of your payment by the finance department of this organisation, your parcel shall be immediately cleared for delivery and shall be delivered to you in accordance with the conditions stated in the option chosen. Send your response to indicate your option within the next 24hrs. Regards,Pastor Raphael Gaymassala.Managing DirectorGoldstar International Express Couriers


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam