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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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "your payment is being processed" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "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.
  • +447045726902 (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.
  • emscourier@aggies.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: mrlennons1@grad.com
Date: Wed, 06 Feb 2008 20:09:25 -1200
Subject: Second Notification For Urgent Delivery..

We Apologize, for the delay of your payment and all the Inconveniences and Inflicts that we might have indulge you
through. However, we were having some minor problems with our payment system, which was Inexplicable, and have held us
stranded and Indolent, not having the Aspiration to devote our 100% Assiduity in accrediting foreign payments.

We apologise once again from the Records of outstanding winners due for payment with {ONLINE PRIME TIME CYBER PROMOTION}
your name and particulars were discovered as next on the list of the outstanding winners who have not yet received their
payments.

I wish to inform you now that the square peg is now in square hole and can be voguish for that your payment is being
processed and will be released to you as soon as you respond to this letter. Also note that from the record in our
file, your outstanding winning payment is US$2 million (Two Million U.S. Dollars). Be informed that,there are two
options open for you to choose from which are :-

(1) Telegraphic Bank transfer into any account of your choice anywhere in the world. The said amount will be wired to
your bank account via Swift bank transfer.

(2) Mailing a certified cashers bond check written in your name to your home address which will be stated above through
an insured courier company.

We wish to bring to your notice that due to previous behaviour of our Lottery winners not feeling safe in giving their
Bank account information to the designated Bank to enable them transfer their winning funds to them,We have decided to
use the courier option to have your winning funds delivered to you with your name written on the certified winning
cheque and sent to you via a secured courier company.

A certificate of prize claims and some vital documents will be sent along side your winning cheque of $2 Million United
States Dollar.

Find below the details of the COURIER DEPARTMENT (EMS INTERNATIONAL COURIER SERVICE LTD).

EMS INTERNATIONAL COURIER SERVICE
Contact Agent :- Mr. Harrison Teke
Email:- emscourier@aggies.com

You are advised to send the courier company an e-mail to their e-mail address (above) for their courier cost and
delivery of your winning parcel. On receipt of your contact with the courier, they shall educate you on the process
mastered to facilitate the shipment of your winning package in the earliest.On contacting them, you are to send the
information below ,to which they will ship your winning cheque.

Full Name and Address........................
Phone and Fax number.........................
Age and Occupation...........................

I will require a concise update on proceedings with the Courier firm as soon as you are in contact with them so, you'll
have to contact the Courier firm on receipt of this email.

Regards,

Mr. Lennon Smith
Telephone :- +44-7045-726902
Online Cyber Promotion Information Department

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam