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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:
  • "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. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. )
• 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.
  • +447092875039 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: BRITISH TOBACCO VERIFICATION CENTRE <british_tobaccoapprovedagent1@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2007 22:28:58 +0100 (BST)
Subject: PAYMENT OPTIONS


Lucky Winner;
REF NO: MELI-T/17-F044262312
TICKET NUMBER 9901-0148-790-691
SERIAL NUMBER 6109-17
Batch No. 13/FFP/LDL/037


ATTENTION:

We hereby inform you that we have processed your payment and your cheque is ready for disbursement, along with your winnings certificate. In this regard you are to choose from the options below the one that best suites you on how you wish to receive your funds, also your funds deposited with us is not in liquid form but in Bank Cheque, this advice complies with the Anti-Fraud section 2,sub section (iv) of the procedural manual of the funds disbursement agreement existing between courier companies and the British Government.

1. Travel in person to collect your funds at our offshore financial centre in Saint Helier, Bailiwick of Jersey( British Crown Dependency). You will be required to present a valid International Passport as proof of Identification.

2. Have our affiliate courier company send the cheque to you. In consonance with our policy in this regard, be advised that if you opt for the cheque to be couriered BRITISH TOBACCO MEGA JACKPOT PROMOTION,exempts itself from all liability related to this service.

The cost of this service would be borne by you; this is a prerequisite for this option. You will be referred to our affiliate courier company so that you can make enquires concerning modalities, and charges. The reason for the courier option is for the fact of double taxation, that is if you are to come over to sign for the release of your winnings personally, you would have to pay taxes on the winnings in Saint Helier, Bailiwick of Jersey and then go and pay taxes on the same winnings in your country once the funds get there.

This is the main reason why we would advise that you take the courier option, you have not collected the winnings until you sign for it and the only way you can sign for it via courier is when you have taken delivery of the parcel containing the winnings cheque and certificate of winning.

We expect that you will notify us of your choice upon receipt of this message so that appropriate arrangement can be put in place.Be advised that your winnings would be paid to you in installments of $150,000.00{one hundred and fifty Thousand United States Dollars}. This is done because of the amount won by you, this money would be paid to you on monthly basis for the next 10 {Ten} months .You are advised to keep your winning numbers secret to avoid unscrupulous elements from taking advantage of the situation. Once again, congratulations.

Regards,

Mr. ALBERT GREGORY
FAX:+(44)7092875039
.............................................................
This email and its attachments are confidential and intended for the exclusive use of the addressee(s). This email and its attachments may also be privileged or protected by legal rules. If you have received this by mistake please let us know by reply immediately and destroy the email and its attachments without reading, copying or forwarding the contents.

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam