419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

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.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

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:
- "international court of justice" (not involved with lotteries)
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. )
- "certificates of origin of funds" ("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. )
- ",500,000" (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)
- "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)
- "headquater" (this email uses bad English)
- "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.
- +447024011372 (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.
- elitecourierservices0@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: GARRY WHITE <mrgarrywhiteclaims@windowslive.com>
Date: Tue, 8 Jun 2010 15:59:56 +0000
Subject: =?windows-1256?Q?CONTACT_TH?= =?windows-1256?Q?E_COURIER_?=
=?windows-1256?Q?FIRM_FOR_D?= =?windows-1256?Q?ELIVERY=FE=FE=FE?=
=?windows-1256?Q?=FE_WITH_THI?= =?windows-1256?Q?S_EMAIL_(e?=
=?windows-1256?Q?litecourie?= =?windows-1256?Q?rservices0?=
=?windows-1256?Q?@yahoo.co.?= =?windows-1256?B?dWsp/v7+/v7+/g==?=
=?windows-1256?B?/v7+/v7+/v7+?=

UK INTERNATIONAL DRAW HEADQUATER
NATIONAL LOTTERY COMMISSION.
LIVERPOOL, L70 1NL
UNITED KINGDOM
Winner Ref No: UK/9420X2/68
Winner Batch No: 074/05/ZY369

Attention: WINNER,

We Wish to formally announce to you that you have successfully pass the requirements, statutory obligations, verifications, validations and satisfactory report Test conducted for all online winners.

All necessary documents that will facilitate the clearance of your cheque in your name has been processed. Your parcel contains the following documents:

1.WINNING CHEQUE VALUED THE SUM OF 1,500,000.00 gbp
2.WINNING CERTIFICATE FROM THELOTTERY BOARD.
3.CLEAR SOURCE OF FUNDS CERTIFICATES(C.S.F.C.)
4.CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN OF FUNDS(C.O.F.)
5.LETTER OF AFFIDAVITS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE, STATING THAT THE WINNING WAS RECEIVED LEGALLY FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM LOTTERY PROGRAM, AND DUELY SIGNED BY THE LEGAL ATTORNEY TO THE LOTTERY BOARD.
These documents have been securely sealed and packed for security reasons which makes it impossible for anyone to view it until its been delivered to you.

Please send an email to Elite Parcel Delivery Company (elitecourierservices0@yahoo.co.uk) with the below contact information for further instructions on how to deliver your parcel containing your cheque to your designated address.

YOUR PARCEL NUMBER: ELTE/5027/009
Courier Company Name: Elite Parcel Delivery Company
Contact Mr. ROBERT EDWARD (Head Of Delivery)
Mace Courier Email: elitecourierservices0@yahoo.co.uk

DELIVERY DEPARTMENT CONTACT INFORMATION
DISPATCH OFFICER: Mr. ROBERT EDWARD
EMAIL: elitecourierservices0@yahoo.co.uk
Tel: +447024011372

You are required to send to the courier delivery company the below details:
Full Name:
Address:
Country:
Tel:
Batch number.....................12052009/20
Winning number...................7PWYZ2009

The Lottery Commission has paid for the delivery charges of your parcel to your designated address.
Note that you are required to get an INSURANCE POLICY on your parcel in case of loss or damage of any of its content, (the courier company will instruct you on what to do).

THE UK INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY has discovered a huge number of double claims due to winners informing close friends relatives and third parties about their winning and also sharing their pin numbers.As a result of this, this friends try to claim the lottery on behalf of the real winners. THE UK INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY has reached a decision from headquarters that any double claim discovered by the Lottery Board will result to the cancelling of that particular winning, making a loss for both the double claimer and the real winner, as it is taken that the real winner was the informer to the double claimer about the lottery. So you are hereby strongly advised once more to keep your winnings strictly confidential until you claim your prize.

Winner from Columbia

winner from sweden

I will require a concise update on proceedings with the firm as soon as you are in contact with them.If you need any assistance
Payment and Release order Department.whatsoever, please do not hesitate to let me know.Do have a nice day.
Congratulations!! once more.

Best Regards,
Mr Gerry White,
Foreign Services Manager
_________________________________________________________________
The New Busy is not the too busy. Combine all your e-mail accounts with Hotmail.
http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?tile=multiaccount&ocid=PID28326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HMP:042010_4

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam