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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
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• 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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "international lottery programme" (no such lottery exists)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • ",000,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "courier company" (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.
  • +447031861051 (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.
  • skyinternationalcourier@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • gulflottery_claimsinfo1@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: notificatio3 notificatio3 <notificatio3@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2007 05:51:28 -0400
Subject: YOUR EMAIL AMERGE THE WINNER IN THE GULF OIL AND GAS COMPANIES
LOTTERY



Gulf Oil & Gas Companies Corporate Headquarters, Ireland.
TEL: +447031861051, P.O.Box 11.ATTENTION, We are delighted to inform you of your prize release on the June, 2007 from the Gulf Oil & Gas Companies International Lottery programme. Which is fully based on an electronic selection of winners using their e-mail addresses.Your email was attached to ticket number; 5647560054, serial number:5360/02. This batch draws the lucky numbers as follows 5-13-33-37-42 bonus number 17,which consequently won the lottery in the third category.You have been approved a lump sum pay of £3,000,000.00.(Three Million Pounds).All participant were selected through a computer balloting system drawn form across the Middle East, Africa, Arab countries and beyond, as part of our international promotionsprogram which is conducted annually.Further more your details(e-mail address) falls within the United kingdom representative office in liverpool city as indicated in your play coupon and your prize of £3,000,000.00GBP will be released to you from this regional branch office. HOW TO CLAIM YOUR WINNING SUM
Fill and send the below form to the courier company to enhance the dispaching of your winning parcles to you.
NOTE ; your winning cheque and certiifcate has been sealed and
authencated by the lottery head director on a parcles which will be send
to you by the courier company on you meeting to the requirement of
sending it to your resident address


Courier Name: SKY INTERNATIONAL COURIER LTD
Contact Name :Mr Brown Kelly Edward
Email :skyinternationalcourier@yahoo.com

NAMES...............RESIDENT ADDRESS................AGE..............SEX................OCCUPATION...............TELEPHONE NUMBER...........

If you want your winning transfer into your bank account, Send an email to ;gulflottery_claimsinfo1@yahoo.com our agent will attend to you.

For security reasons, we advice all winners to keep this information confidential from the public until your claim is processed and your prize released to you. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted taking advantage of this programme Please Be Warned.Congratulations once again on your winnings!!!Best RegardsGeorge Brain. (co-ordinator)

Gulf Oil & Gas Companies
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam