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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
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• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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 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 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.
  • +447045792420 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +447031981576 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: tntcourierdelivery002@live.com
Date: Sat, 15 Nov 2008 05:13:09 GMT
Subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION!!




The U=2EK=2E National Lottery=2C
12 Bridge Street=2C
Staines Middlesex TW18 4TP=2C
United Kingdom=2E
Customer Service/Claims Department
Ref=3A UK/NDU/9023118308/03
Batch=3A 074/05/ZY369

Dear Winner=2C

We happily announce to you the recent draw of the UK NATIONAL
LOTTERY=2ConlineSweepstakes International Program held on Monday
2008=2EYour e-mail address attached to ticket number=3A56475600545 188 w=
ith
Serial number 5368/02 drew the lucky numbers=3A 01-14-21-3-35-48 and a b=
onus
number of 24=2EYou have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of=

=A3590=2C983=2E00 (Five Hundred and Ninety Thousand Nine Hundred and Eig=
hty
Three Great British Pounds) in cash credited to file KTU/9023118308/03=2E=
To
file for your claim=2CWe have sent your cheque along sidesome consolatio=
n
prizes and other vital documents relating to your winnings to
ouraffilaite courier company (TNT COURIER SERVICE)
=

TNT COURIER SERVICE=2E
ADDRESS OF HEAD OFFICE=3A TNT INTERNATIONAL =

Central Pk Est/Mosley Rd=2CTrafford Park Manchester =2CM17
1TT UK=2E
Client Service Manager TNT=2C
DISPATCH OFFICER
MR=2EPHILLIP CHRISTOPHER
Tel=3A +(44) 70 31981576
EMAIL=3Atntcourierdelivery002=40live=2Ecom =

Open 7days-24hrs-365days=2E =


Do note that you will be responsible for all costs
incurred in mailing your winning package to you=2E
=

For security reasons=2C you are advised to keep your
winning information confidential till your claim is
processed and your money remitted to you in whatever
manner you deem fit to claim your prize=2E This is part
of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming
and unwarranted abuse of this program=2E Please be
warned !!!
=

Note=3A you are to Quote your complete names=2C and your
direct phone number so that they can honour your
letter=2EOnce again i say congratulations and always
inform me with your dealings with the courier company=2E
=

Warm Regards=2C
MR=2ELEE JOSE
+44 70457 92420
The U=2EK=2E National Lottery (Sweepstakes International)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam