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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • ",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)
  • "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.
  • +447024031750 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +448704796453 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +447024032485 (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.
  • universalexpress001@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Mr Gladstone wright <agentgladstone_wright@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 6 Jul 2007 19:55:12 +0100 (BST)
Subject: UPDATE


MICROSOFT AWARD TEAM
20 GLENEAGELE ROAD,STREATHAM SW16 6AB LONDON,
UNITED KINGDOM.
BATCH: 2006MJL-01
REF NO: MAT/200-26937
6 JULY, 2007.

Attn: Winner,

With the correspondence from the British Gaming Board all unclaimed lottery winners are advise to contact the affiliate Courier Agency (Universal Express Courier Agency) with the information below for swift delivery of their winning cheque, as all winners are expected to receive winning prize through a cashier Cheque that is written out in their full names and a hard copy of Winning Certificate (one for each) as well as high insurance coverage for safe delivery.

Universal Express Courier Agency, United Kingdom
Corporate Headquarters, 91 Station Road, West Drayton,
Middlesex UB7 7LTUnited Kingdom.
universalexpress001@yahoo.co.uk
Tel: +44 702 403 1750
Mobile:+44 702 403 2485
Fax: +44 870 479 6453
Contact person: Joseph Bright (Dispatch Officer)


Find below the delivery information which you are require to forward to the man incharge at the Courier Agency immediately you receive this email as time is of essence.

Amount on your certified cheque:£1,000,000.00 ( One Million Great British Pounds) BATCH: 2006MJL-01
REF NO: MAT/200-26937
Name of fiduciary Agent: Mr Mark Wright.
clearance code: A2245UK Your Residential Address

Congratulations once again!

Mr Gladstone Wright,
Verifications/Logistic Department
Microsoft Award Team.

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