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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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• 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:
  • "fiduciary 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.
  • +2348035740659 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • ems_courierservice@yahoo.no

Fraud email example:

From: "Ibro" <ibroadampr@excite.com>
Date: Thu, 11 May 2006 18:13:19 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Winning No: KB8701


Dear S. Fairchild,
How are you doing today?
I am in receipt of your mail and i must say that you should count yourself extremely lucky to have emerged as one of our winners in this year's lucky dip sweepstakes.As you already know your email address was randomly selected along with others from over 100,000 websites on the internet.
This is from the total cash prize of US$2,000,000 Million Dollars,shared amongst the first Ten (10) lucky winners in this category. A certificate of prize claims and some vital documents will be sent along side your winnings cheque.The documents to be sent are;
1.WINNING CERTIFICATE CASH-OUT LOTTERY BV.2.WINNERS CHEQUE FOR THE VALUE OF US$200,000.00 Usd3.CLEAR SOURCE OF FUNDS CERTIFICATES(C.S.F.C.);4.CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN OF FUNDS(C.O.F.).
EMS COURIER SERVICE, has been contracted to deliver your winning package to your location.Contact the courier company with the contact information below for futher instructions on how to send the consignment to your location.
Note: Make sure you fill this listed information and send it to the Below contact address. The EMS COURIER SERVICE ( CONTACT AGENT: MR. TONY WILLIAMS ) will be waiting for your information to enable them send you your package and for sending you your package be informed that you have to pay for the Courier sevice, and your package will be sent to you in 4days time.
1. Full name:2. Telephone number:3. Fax number:4. Mailing address:5. Age:6. Occupation:7. Country/State:8. Batch Number:9. Ref Number:
EMS COURIER SERVICECONTACT AGENT: MR. TONY WILLIAMSE-MAIL: ems_courierservice@yahoo.no TELEPHONE: Tel: 234-803-5740659
Have it in mind that you will be required to settle the courier charges which the sending of your winnings cheque will incure, this is because the total amount has been insured to the real value and as such cannot be deducted from. This is in accordance with section 13(1)(n) of the national gambling act as adopted in 1993 and amended on October 2005 by the constitutional assembly. This is to protect winners and to avoid misappropriation of funds.
Its is imperative that you add your BATCH No: 8056490902, Ref: 575061725, Winning No: KB8701, as the subject of any correspondence with the courier company to ensure they respond in a timely manner.
I will require a concise update on proceedings with the firm as soon as you are in contact with them.If you need any assistance whatsoever, please do not hesitate to let me know.And i do hope you will consider me for a little bonus after you have recieved your winnings.
Regards,Mr. Ibro AdamFIDUCIARY AGENT234-1-8511450

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam