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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:

• 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:
  • "uk national lottery" (can only win this lottery if you bought a ticket)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "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.
  • +447031817650 (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.
  • infoicscouriers206@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: INTERNATIONAL COURIER SYSTEMS <infoicscouriers206@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sun, 1 Jul 2007 15:41:07 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Welcome to International Courier Systems(ICS) UK


International Courier Systems{ICS}
Customer/Delivery Services Department
12 Ground Floor,
Amburst Service,
London E8 2BT,
United Kingdom
TEL :+44 703 1817 650
+44 703 1817 670
+44 703 1817 848
+44 703 1817 937
Email: infoicscouriers206@yahoo.co.uk



ATTN:Customer,

Welcome to INTERNATIONAL COURIER SYSTEMS UK,The leader in the delivery service sector here in the UK.We provide our client with wide range of specialised delivery service.The scope of our scheduled route service is unlimited.We are a private courier company that ensures a safe, sound and secure delivery of your parcels, making sure you get them when expected.Your package containing your cheque of £956,420.00 GBP approximately $1,845,155.37 USD, original copy of your certificate and security documents,have been picked up from the UK National Lottery headquarters and is ready for dispatch.Please read carefully. Your winning cheque is an international certified cheque,which can be cashed in any International Bank in the world.Some details you provided in your winning claim which was made available to us has been attached to other document including your winning cheque and other vital important information regarding your claim .If there should be any change in Address and
Name Please inform us ASAP.

The original copy of this certificate and your cheque from the British government stating that the money was obtained legally through their UK NATIONAL LOTTERY will be Delivered to you in One day delivery Channel as regards to this you are to keep this notification confidential to avoid double claiming of order winners not until your cheque is been delivered to you at your door step.

Your Reg. Order No:34730265.Parcel description and delivery information is:


Weight of Original Winning Certificate 0.12g Weight of Bank Cheque 0.06g Total weight of Parcel 0.18g Total Net weight of Parcel 0.36g Colour of Parcel Brown Parcel Packaging Bonded

It is the usual practise of our organisation to conduct a proper verification of all parcels that we are to deliver to ensure that they are valid. We hereby guarantee and assure you that your cheque has been confirmed valid and true. Your parcel will be delivered to you within the next 24hours.

You will be required to sign for the parcel as soon as it is delivered to you and also a picture will be taken with our delivery service officer as prove to the UK NATIONAL LOTTERY that we have actually deliver your winning parcel to you, thus we will need either a scanned copy of your international passport or your driver's license for identification purpose. Please ensure that you confirm your delivery address.

CONGRATULATIONS ONCE MORE!!!

YOURS FAITHFULLY,
MR HARRISON BLAIR
(Client Services Manager).



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam