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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "anti-terrorism certificate" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
  • "clear source of funds certificate" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
  • "insurance fee " (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. )
  • "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.
  • +447045728896 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "SCARLET SECURITY AGENCY UK." <verification_claimsunits@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 7 Jul 2007 13:33:35 +0100 (BST)
Subject: ATTENTION: Ms Wilda Wolfmacher


Winning No: 11.28.48.34.44.34 , REF NO: MSW/56B-672GH/L
---------------------------------

SCARLET SECURITY AGENCY
12 WHITEHALL, LONDON SWIA 2DY.
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM.
Microsoft Verification And Claims Unit


ATTENTION: Ms Wilda Wolfmacher,

CONGRATULATIONS: Your informations was received and the verification process concluded.
A cheque has been issued in your NAME and we have concluded the processing of all documents that will facilitate the clearance of the cheque in any of the international Bank in your country.

This documents includes the following:

1. WINNING CHEQUE VALUED THE SUM OF £550,000.00 GBP.
2. WINNING CERTIFICATE FROM MICROSOFT ONLINE E-MAIL LOTTERY PROMOTION BOARD.
3. CLEAR SOURCE OF FUNDS CERTIFICATES (C.S.F.C.)
4. ANTI-TERRORISM CERTIFICATES(A.T.C)
5. LETTER OF AFFIDAVITS FOR CLAIMS From the British Government stating that the money was obtained legally through MICROSOFT ONLINE E-MAIL LOTTERY PROMOTION.

These documents have been securely sealed and packed for security reasons which makes it impossible for anyone to view it until its been delivered to you.

Find below our delivery options which you are required to choose the one that is most convenient to you.

DHL


Cost of delivery
Mailing: £25.10
Vat: £5.40
Insurance Fee: £360.00 equal to $720.00






FEDEX

Cost of delivery
Mailing: £21.00
VAT £5.00
Insurance Fee: £360.00 equal to $720.00


UPS
Cost of delivery
Mailing: £18.00




VAT £5.00
Insurance Fee: £360.00 equal to $720.00

All three options are 48hours delivery after shipment.

NB: THE INSURANCE FEE (£360.00 equal to $720.00) IS ABSOLUTELY COMPULSORY, AND MUST BE PAID BEFORE THE SHIPMENT OF YOUR PARCEL WHILE THE MAILING FEE SHOULD BE PAID TO THE DELIVERY COMPANY THAT WILL DELIVER YOUR PARCEL TO YOUR DOORSTEP.

Due to the diplomatic content of your parcel, it will be illegal to ship it without being insured with the BRITISH INSURANCE MINISTRY, as it will violate the federal delivery rules governing diplomatic parcel delivery. This means payment for the insurance fee must be made before shipment to avoid risk. This is because of some bad experience we had in the past. We can not afford to re-issue your cheque if anything goes wrong. In this case payment for the insurance fee is absolutely compulsory, while the mailing fee should be paid to any of the above listed delivery company you choose at the point of delivery


Indicate the delivery option that is most convenient to you from the above listed options and send us,
1.Your Full Residential Address:
2. Direct Tel:
3. State / Country:
Where the parcel will be delivered.



Your prize is protected by a hardcover insurance policy, which makes it impossible to deduct any amount from the money before remittance. This means that the above insurance charges cannot be deducted from the prize and hence must be provided by you before your parcel is shipped. This is in accordance with section 13(1)(n) of the international gambling act as adopted in 1993 and amended on 3RD july 1996 by the constitutional assembly.


Your response is been awaited.

Yours In Service
Mr. Martins Coleman.
Tel. +44-704-572-8896
+44-702-407-7058
+44-703-189-6037





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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam