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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "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.
  • +447092869036 (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.
  • cargolinkxpress@hotmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "reaney wilson" <agent_reaneywilson@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 15 Oct 2005 09:28:21 -0500
Subject: CONTACT THE COURIER COMPANY FOR YOUR WINNING PRIZE!

                         The National Lottery
                             P O Box 1010
                          Liverpool, L70 1NL
                            UNITED KINGDOM
                          (Customer Services) 

Ref:UK/9420X2/68 
Batch:074/05/ZY369

Date:15TH OCTOBER, 2005                                                                                              

                      

ATTENTION: HENNY,

 

CONGRATULATIONS!This is to inform you that you have been cleared a winner of the UK NATIONAL LOTTERY online Sweepstakes International program.

 

I am happy to inform you, your Original Certificate and your Certified bank cheque has been fowarded to the courier company.
Find below the details of the courier company.

CARGO LINK XPRESS COURIER SERVICE. 
ADDRESS OF HEAD OFFICE:Link House, 1C CHURCH STREET,
WHITCHURCH, HANTS,RG28 7AD ENGLAND.
NAME:MR TAYLOR  WHITE(dispatch officer)
EMAIL:cargolinkxpress@hotmail.com

FAX:  ...... +447092869036

PHONE NUMBER:+447040122245 
You are advised to send the courier company a mail to their email address for their courier cost.When contacting them,you are to include this order number and your winning amount as your subject.Please you are adviced to write down the order number and save it.
 
ORDER NUMBER:S562725
 
Note: you are to Quote your complete names,Nationality,Home address,Ref/Batch Numbers,order number,winning amount and your direct phone number so that they can honour your letter.Once again i say congratulations and always inform me with your deallings with the courier company.
 
Thanks,
 
Mr.Reaney Wilson.

Claims Agent,
UK NATIONAL LOTTERY.

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam