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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:

• 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.
  • +447024037837 (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.
  • fedexdeliveryservice@pisem.net

Fraud email example:

From: natwestbank11@freenet.de
Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2008 21:10:55 +0100
Subject: Customer Service: 580 NCA 85914


NatWest Bank
20 Dean Street
London
W1D 3R
United Kingdom
Phone: +(44)
7024 037 837
Fax: +(44) 7024 037 837

Customer Service: 580 NCA 85914


Dear Customer,

This is to inform you that your $1 Million Dollar
Cheque has been sent to FedEx Courier Service (UK) for immediate mailing
of your cheque to your doorstep. FedEx International Courier Service,
has been contracted by the UK Finance Ministry to deliver your package
to your location.

Contact the courier company with the information
below for further instructions on how to mail the package to your
location.

FedEx Courier Service
Parkhouse Road East, Parkhouse
Industrial Estate East,
Newcastle, Staffordshire, ST5 7RB, United
Kingdom
Phone: +(44) 7024 037 963
Fax: +(44) 7005 807 163
Email:
fedexdeliveryservice@pisem.net

Have it in mind that you the fund
beneficiary will be required to settle the courier charges which
includes mailing and insurance of your winning cheque, this is because
the total amount has been insured to it\'s 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 and to avoid
misappropriation of funds.

It is imperative that you add Customer
Service: 580 NCA 85914 as the subject of any correspondence with FeDex
International Courier Service to enable them verify your payment file
for the release of your cheque.

YOUR CONTACT DETAILS:

1. Full
Name:
2. Home Address:
3. Phone Number:
4. Fax Number: (if any)

I will
require a concise update on proceedings with FedEx as soon as you
contact them. If you need any assistance whatsoever, please do not
hesitate to let me know.

I anticipate your prompt response.


Sincerely,

Mary Purcell
NatWest Customer Relations
Phone: (44) 7024
037 837

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam