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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
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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:
  • "payment for the courier" (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "deadline" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "vat (5%)" (VAT is 17.5% in the UK but 5% in Nigeria)
• 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!

Fraud email example:

From: Kent Peters <kentpeters127@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 19 Feb 2007 08:36:18 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: ACT FAST.


Dear Odette Freud, Thanks for your mail and in respect to your mail:

Yes it is possible for us to just post your winnings via draft means but i can assure you the fastest way to receive your winnings is via Bank to Bank Transfer, but since you want it Via Couriering there is no problem with us.

There are three different type of claims option below (apart from the Bank to Bank Transfer), all you have to do now Ms Odette Freud, is for you to choose out of them the one that best most suitable for you and get back to us as soon as possible informing us the one you chose and where you want us to deliver your winnings/money/funds to.

OPTIONS:
Courier of your winning draft to you via any of this channel listed below:

Option:1
ECEX
Mailing..............................................£205.00
Insurance.........................................£350.00
Vat (5%)..........................................£122.75
TOTAL.............................................£777.75
TIME OF DELIVERY.............................(24 Hours)


Option:2
UKEX
Mailing &n bsp;...................................£189.00
Insurance..........................................£350.00
Vat (5%)..........................................£021.95
TOTAL.............................................£560.95
TIME OF DELIVERY........................ (72 Hours)


Option: 3
POST OFFICE MAIL
Mailing ;............................................£130.00
Insurance..........................................£350.00
Vat (5%)..........................................£019.00
TOTAL.............................................£499.00
TIME OF DELIVERY................................... (96 Hours)

Once you furnish us with the best option that suites you out of this three options, please do not hesitate to go and make the payment for the courier charges, so that your winnings can get to you before the deadline which is on the 30th of this month (Febuary) 2007, remember, We very limited time left.

I think i have already furnished you with the payment details/on how to make the payment for the courier charges in my previous mail.

Note that your prize is protected by a hardcover insurance policy by GEOTRUST INSURANCE COMPANY, which makes it impossible for us to deduct any amount from your winnings before it is Remitted to you. This means that the above charges cannot be deducted from the prize and hence must be provided by you before your prize is transferred to you. Please respond to this email by making a selection from the courier options above.


Good luck and Congratulations once again.
Best Wishes,
Kent Peters.


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam