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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
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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:
  • "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "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)
• 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.
  • +447031930919 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +448704906765 (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.
  • citytrust_bankplc@hotmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "BRITISH LOTTERY AGENT" <britishlotteryagent20056@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 13 Oct 2005 15:58:56 +0000
Subject: Dear Paula Negri

Dear   Paula Negri ,

    I am In Receipt of your Email regarding your winnings, your details has been verified and your winning has been confirmed to this effect, You are hereby cleared to receive your winning price with the option stated below
There are two options available to you via which you may receive your winnings in your location.

1) CHEQUE PAYMENT.
2) BANK TRANSFER.

    If you choose to receive your winnings via cheque payment:Please contact   A-Z INSURANCE & BROKERS COMPANY PLC they will use their diplomatic courier service to courier your cheque to location 
    Please Contact Them with The following Details Below:

Company name: A-Z INSURANCE & BROKERS COMPANY PLC
Address: Manchester United Kingdom
Contact person:  Mr. David Fletcher
(Director Foreign Remittance Department)
Direct Tell: +44-703 193 0919 or +44-703-193-0612
Fax: +44-870-490-6765,+44870-490-6766
Direct E-mail: info@insurancecompany4all.com

The A-Z INSURANCE & BROKERS COMPANY PLC on behalf of the(BRITISH INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY.)they  will be responsible for sending you a cheque in the amount of your winnings, Issued in your favor by the  as well as original copies of all necessary winning documents.

   Alternatively, if you prefer to receive your winnings via Bank Transfer, please contact the Transfer Bank, with The following Details Below

 Bank name: CITY TRUST BANK PLC
 Address: Manchester United Kingdom
 Contact person: Mr. Frank Ban
 (Director Foreign Remittance Department)
  Direct Tell: +44-704 -011-1412 
  Fax: +44-870-490-6754,+44-870-490-6755
 Direct E-mail:citytrust_bankplc@hotmail.com

 The CITY TRUST BANK PLC on behalf of the (BRITISH INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY) they will be responsible for The transferring of your winning funds to your designated bank account.
*I want you to note that you will be required to pay the UPFRONT charges necessary for the wire transfer or cheque payment
of your winnings by the CITY TRUST BANK PLC or A-Z INSURANCE & BROKERS COMPANY PLC  as the case may be, please update me on how you are going with transfer

   Congratulations again!!!

 Regards,

  Walter John.

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam