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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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:
  • "you are required to pay " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. )
  • "here in united kingdom" (this email uses bad English)
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
• 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!
• Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
• 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.
  • +447031947950 (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.
  • britishcouriercomp1972@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: British Courier Company <britishcouriercomp1972@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 7 Jul 2007 04:27:41 +0100 (BST)
Subject: IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: "BAC/OCN/70734"




BRITISH AIRWAYS COURIER COMPANY.

WorldCargo Centre. S126 P.O.Box 99.
Heathrow. Middlesex, United Kingdom.


Phone: +44 703 1947950, Email: britishcouriercomp1972@yahoo.co.uk

Dear Lrmina Aech,

IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: "BAC/OCN/70734"

This is to inform you that we are in possession of your certified check which is to be couriered to you. You are to please confirm your alternative mailing address to enable us dispatch your parcel immediately if any.Our experience dates back to 1972 when British Airways Courier Company launched its first operations in the Uk in affialiated from the British Airways Company.

Through understanding customers various needs and in response to market changes we have become the largest independently owned express network in the world providing flexible and reliable door to door service It is the usual practice of our organization to conduct a proper verification of all parcels that we are to deliver to ensure that they are valid. Be rest assured that your check has been confirmed valid, true and delivery will be made once you have met the necessary requirements.


We are a well established company offering courier and transport services 24 hour a day for priority delivery of letters, parcels and consignments to any destination by road, air or sea. We have a substantial team of couriers available for motorcycle dispatch plus van driver couriers in all size vehicles from small vans up to 7.5 tonne and international couriers for dispatch by road, sea or air.

Description of parcel to be delivered:
An original certificate of weight : ......... 0.15kg
Bonded draft of weight : ....................... 0.17kg
Total weight of parcel : ......................... 0.32kg
Colour of Parcel : .................................. Dark Brown

Below are the mandatory administrative charges required to enable us courier/deliver your certified bank check to you.



First Class Delivery:24hours
Mailing: ................................. £ 200.00
Insurance: .............................. £130.00
Handling charges: .................. £120.00
Vat: ......................................... £ 100.00
______________________________________
TOTAL: £550.00 = US$1,091.21





Premium Class Delivery:72hours
Mailing: ......................................... £170.00
Insurance: ..................................... £100.00
Handling charges: ........................ £120.00
Vat: ............................................... £90.00
____________________________________
TOTAL: £480.00 = US$954.598



Normal Class Delivery:120hours
Mailing: ................................. £125.00
Insurance: .............................. £100.00
handling charges: .................. £100.00
Vat: ........................................ £25.00
_____________________________________
TOTAL: £350.00 = US$695.855

The charges are a little high because of the insurance cover we have undertaken incase of loss,damage or theft of your highly sensitive document. We assume all responsibilities incase of any eventualities,payment of any of the above delivery class should be paid via WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER as to speed up the process of delivery. You are required to pay through our accounts officer here in United Kingdom because presently our accounts are undergoing a mid - year auditing and hence no payments can be made directly via Telegraphic Transfer. We apologise for any inconveniences.

Account Officer below:
FRANK SMITH
WorldCargo Centre.
S126 P.O.Box 99.
Heathrow. Middlesex,
United Kingdom.




You are to send to this office a copy of the transfer slip via email in this form below:

1. Sender's Name:
2. Sender's Address:
3. Mtcn (Control Number):
4. Amount Sent:

Also to send a copy of the western union payment information to your handling agent "Promotion Manager" as well for confirmation. A receipt of the above payment will be issued to you from our office along with your check and winning certificate.

As soon as we receive confirmation and evidence of payment of the above charges, we will dispatch your parcel immediately. The date and time of departure and expected date of delivery will be sent to you. You will be required to sign for the parcel and to do this, you will need either your international passport as identification or your driver's license.

NOTE: All orders not delivered with three (3) working days from this communication will be returned and We do not offer "Cash on Delivery" (C.O.D) as part of our services. we are glad to be of service to you.

Regards,

MR. ANTHONY D. BRIGHT
HEAD, CUSTOMER PROPOSITION
BRITISH AIRWAYS COURIER COMPANY.





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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam