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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "uk national lottery" (can only win this lottery if you bought a ticket)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "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. )
• 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.
  • +447045715729 (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.
  • churchill_expressuk@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: Kelvin Fisher <agentkelvinfisher07@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2007 17:58:09 +0100 (BST)
Subject: CONTACT OUR CONTRACTED/DELIVERY COMPANY FOR YOUR PARCEL.



The National Lottery
P O Box 1010
Liverpool, L70 1NL
UNITED KINGDOM
(Customer Services)
Ref:UK/9420X/68
Batch:074/05/ZY369




ATTENTION:Leopoldo Bieber.


CONGRATULATIONS!This is to inform you that you have been cleared a winner of the UK NATIONAL LOTTERY online Sweepstakes International program.

I am happy to inform you, your Original Certificate and CASH PRIZE (SEALED WITH HARD INSURANCE POLICY) has been forwarded to the courier company.
Find below the details of the courier company.

CHURCHILL EXPRESS COURIER SERVICE
EMAIL:churchill_expressuk@yahoo.com
TEL:+447045715729
You are advised to send the courier company a mail to their email address for their courier cost of delivering your winning prize.When contacting them,you are to include the following:

1.Full Name:
2.Full Address:
3.Telephone Number:

Note:
1) as your agent i am supposed to be briefed at all times your dealings with the courier company for proper documentation or when you do not have a proper understanding with the company.

2) you are to keep your winning details very confidential until your won funds has been delivered to you.This part of our measure to avoid double claiming of winnings or any abuse of this promo.Once again i say congratulations.

Thanks,

Kelvin Fisher

Claims Agent.
UK NATIONAL LOTTERY






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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam