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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "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. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• 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.
  • +447045720557 (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.
  • tntcourierxpressuk@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • international_lottoinfo@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: martins cole <international_lottoinfo@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 15 Jun 2007 01:35:18 +0100 (BST)
Subject: CONTACT OUR COURIER COMPANY URGENTLY.


THE UK INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY
P O BOX 1010
LIVERPOOL, L70 1NL
UNITED KINGDOM
(Customer Services)
Ref No: UK/9420X2/68
Batch No: 074/05/ZY369

ATTENTION: Mr Markel Fensterler

Accept our sincerely apology,for the slight delay in responding to your mail,it was an outcome of the processing of your winning documents.
before i proceed i would like to comfirm that you are in the right office of "THE UK INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY" so you have nothing to worry about.
We wish to congratulate you once again on this note,for being part of the winners selected for the second category,Hence we do believe with your winning prize ,you will continue to patronize the u.k free lottery. A winning cheque has been issued in your name by the Lottery Incoperation board and also a certificate of prize claims will be sent along side your winnings cheque.
You are therefore expected to contact our affiliated delivery company (TNT COURIER SERVICE) which holds the civic responsibility to deliever your cheque to your residence.
DELIEVERY DEPARTMENT CONTACT INFORMATION
DESPATCH OFFICER: Mr. James Woods
COMPANY EMAIL: tntcourierxpressuk@yahoo.co.uk
TEL: +447 0457 20557
your total amount won (£500,000.00) has been insured to the real value .This is to protect winners and to avoid misappropriation of funds hence it cannot be temperd, so please meet their administrative charges and don't forget to fill and send the verification form including your winning numbers. once again congratulations......... If you need any assistance whatsoever, please do not hesitate to let me know. Do have a nice day.
Events manager:Rev.martins Cole
Official Email:international_lottoinfo@yahoo.co.uk
Tel: +447045714432


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam