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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!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• 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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "processing fee" (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.

Fraud email example:

From: "Sympatico/ msn Lottery" <msnlotteryclaimsadmin2005@msn.com>
Date: Mon, 09 Jan 2006 08:14:18 +0000
Subject: MSN DELIVERY

Dear David Lee Aschenbrenner,

we just resumed on the 3rd of January and we want you to know here that we have entered your package with UPS for delivery and has been scheduled for shipping. Here is your UPS TRACKING #:  1Z 80A 1Y1 66 9977 4984, The cost of mailing has been paid in full by us, however we require you  insure the check before it can be shipped to you, because it is our policy to always make sure that our Lucky winner insured their winning check before it can be send as we would not be held liable for any loss of this document, and this is our policy at MSN/SYMPATICO LOTTERY.

The cost of insurance to have your check sent to you is given below:
Processing fees $80
Insurance:        $315.00
Vat:                  $ 15.00
TOTAL:              $410.00

The total cost to have your check delivered to you as scheduled in the mail sent to you is $410.00.

All payments are to be made out to our receiving officer in London:
THOMAS ANDREW
90 Hardinge Road
NW1 9UB
London.

Payments should be made via western union money transfer out to THOMAS ANDREW and the transfer details sent to us for verification, upon receipt of the payments for the insurance, your check will be delivered to you with 2 working day, we want you to get your winning check along side your award winning certificate this year, that is if you are able to pay your fee today or tomorrow.

Regards,
MSN!!! Mail Team

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam