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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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:
  • "money laundering" ("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. )
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "vat (5%)" (VAT rate in the UK is 17.5%, check the math)
  • "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!
• 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.
• 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.
  • +447031907691 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: TNT DELIVERY SERVICE <tntdeliveryservice15@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 06:22:10 +0100
Subject: TNT COURIER DELIVERY COST/PAYMENT INSTRUCTION






























TNT COURIER SERVICE (TNT)Customer/Delivery Services DepartmentADDRESS OF HEAD OFFICE: TNT INTERNATIONAL Central Pk Est/Mosley Rd,Trafford Park Manchester ,M17 1TT UK. Client Service Manager TNT,
ATTN : Winner,
ORDER NUMBER:F562725
Welcome to TNT COURIER SERVICE (TNT)We are a courier company that ensures a safe, sound and secure delivery of your parcels, making sure you get them when expected. Your particulars have been received in this office.This means that you have been officially cleared for payment of 500,000.00 GBP = 988,000.00 USD.by the Verifications Dept. at the HeadQuarters of the Euro Million Lottery International.Your Winning Cheque, Original Copy of your Winning Certificate, together with a covering document (Money Laundering protection and Letter of Affidavit for Claims) from the British Government stating that the money was obtained legally through their Euro Million Lottery International promotion will be sent to you as soon as you choose from any of the option stipulated below. Your package containing your cheque, original copy of your certificate and security documents . Kindly provide us with the information requested below accurately to help us deliver your package as the information provided will be used to contact you and the address provided is where your winning package will be shipped to. When This is done you will be issued a tracking number with which you will be able to monitor your package online.Contact Name:
Residential Address:
Sex:
Age:
Occupation:
City:
State:
Postal Code:
Country: Telephone Ext.: Package Contents: Cheque, Winning Certificate and Security Documents. Delivery time :.....................( time of recipient's availability)
Service Options: You are required to select a service option below. The options, together with their associated conditionsare presented below: Option:1TNT EXPRESS DELIVERY (Same day parcel delivery )Mailing...............................£105.00Insurance.............................£430.00Vat (5%)..............................£034.00TOTAL.................................£569.00========$1,074 USD Option:2TNT PREMIUM SERVICE (Next day parcel delivery )
Mailing &n bsp;.......................£75.00Insurance.............................£350.00Vat (5%)..............................£038.00TOTAL.................................£463.00========$875 USD Option:3TNT REGULAR SERVICE(3working days)Mailing ;.............................£60.00Insurance.............................£300.00Vat (5%)..............................£019.00TOTAL.................................£379.00========$ 715 USD


Option:4
Bank Transfer Fee...........................£550
The charges are a little bit high because of the Hardcover insurance Policy we have undertaken incase of loss,Damage or Theft of your highly sensitive document and funds. We assume all responsibilities incase of any eventualities and we don't deliver on cash on delivery(C.O.D) because we don't accept cash.
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. This company declined reverse payment for these charges, stating that it is against their professional policy towards ensuring the safe delivery of the cheque 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 cheque since payment for insurance cover was not made at point of mailing.

With the above reason, reverse payment is ruled out.Meanwhile, you will be issue a tracking number to monitor your package online after chosen any option which is suitable for you for payment. Please respond to this email by making a selection from the three options above.Prior to your option chosen, you are therefore advised to go and make payment according to the stipulated option of delivery you choose, payment should be made with the information and details ast stated below before we can proceed with the delivery of your winning:


The information and instructions to complete the payment based on your request are listed below.
You are to go to the nearest Western Union Location around your area and make the payment for the delivery with the Details
as given below :
Payment should be made to our account officer:

First Name: Harry
Last Name: DonaldAddress: 20 Boston, London EC3M 1DT, United Kingdom

After Western Union transfer has been completed, please email us with the Name of Sender, the city and country the transfer was originated from, the dollar amount sent, and the MTCN number. Then all details and formalities of delivery will be issued to you after confirmation of your payment.
Good luck and Congratulations once again. Please sendyour response within the next 24hrs to this same email address. Best Regards,
MR.KELVIN BODE.Client Service ManagerTNT COURIER SERVICE.
Open 7days-24hrs-365days.

TEL:+447031907691
+447031947391
FAX:+448704783073
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam