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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• 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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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:
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "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.
  • +447092869036 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +447045714765 (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.
  • tcourierservice044@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: LOTTERY AGENT <freelotto_enquires01@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 14 Jul 2007 14:21:32 +0100 (BST)
Subject: CONTACT COURIER (ORDER NUMBER: GX22589420).


FREE LOTTO SWEEPSTAKES CLAIMS AND RELEASE DEPARTMENT.
GOVERNMENT ACCREDITED LICENSED!!!
BRITISH(UK) NATIONAL ONLINE INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY
IS REGISTERED UNDER THE DATA PROTECTION ACT OF;
(Registration U971133B).

Dear Winner,

CONGRATULATIONS!This is to inform you that you have been cleared a winner of the Online Lotto Sweepstakes International program.

I am happy to inform you, your Original Certificate and your Certified
bank cheque has been forwarded to the courier company.
Find below the details of the courier company.


TNT COURIER SERVICE@
ADDRESS OF HEAD OFFICE: TNT INTERNATIONAL
Central Pk Est/Mosley Rd,Trafford Park
Manchester ,M17 1TT UK.
NAME: MR.STEVEN WALTER (Dispatch Officer).
EMAIL:tcourierservice044@yahoo.co.uk
TEL:+44-704- 571- 4765
TEL:+44-704- 571- 4768
TEL:+44-704- 571- 4764
FAX:+447 092 869 036


Open 7days-24hrs-365days

You are advised to send the courier company a mail to their email
address for their courier cost. When contacting them, you are to include
this order number as your subject. Please you are advised to write down
the order number and save it.

ORDER NUMBER: GX22589420

Note: You are to Quote your complete names, and your direct phone
number so that they can honor your letter. Once again I say
congratulations and always inform me with your dealings with the
courier company.

Below are the photograph of the past winners of the annual Online Lotto Sweepstake international Program held yearly.


Congratulation once more from me and staffs of the Free Lotto International.


Feduciary/Claims Agent.

Foreign Services Manager,
Claims Release Department,
Free Lotto Sweepstakes



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam