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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery 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 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:
  • "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.
  • +447031972837 (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.
  • parcelflightcouriercompany001@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: Richard Barnard <theclaimsofficerrichardbarnard@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2007 20:14:44 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Lottery Verifications/ Contact Courier Company For Your Winning Cheque



UK NATIONAL LOTTERY
PO Box 1010 Liverpool L70 1NL
United Kingdom.



ATTN: Alois Gersten,

You should count yourself extremely lucky to have emerged as one of our winners in this year’s lucky dip sweepstakes. As you already know, your email address was randomly selected along with (3) other e-mail addresses from over 125,600 websites on the internet. Each email address was attached to a File (Ticket) number: 56475600545188, based on this your prize money shall be remitted to you accordingly. A certificate of prize claims and some vital documents will be sent along side your winnings cheque. The documents to be sent are;


1. Winning cheque
2.Winners Certificate and
3.Certificate Of Lodgement
.
You are required to complete the below prize claim form, and provide a proof of your identity. The Text of the Form is provided below:

Name:
Address:
Post Box No:
Phone and Fax Number:
Ticket and Batch Number:

The above form should be completed and sent to: The (Courier Company) so as to authenticate your lottery winnings.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
parcelflight courier company
Handling agent: Mr Jeffrey clinton Parcel Flight Courier Services LTD
Unit 11, Ashford Industrial Estate,
Shield Road, Ashford, Middx,
TW15 1AU, london.
United Kingdom.

Email: parcelflightcouriercompany001@yahoo.co.uk
Tel: +447031972837
Tel: +447031972837
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Have it in mind that your won prize cannot be deducted from , this is because the total amount has been insured to the real value . This is in accordance with section 13(1)(n) of the national gambling act as adopted in 1993 and amended on 3RD July 1996 by the constitutional assembly. It is imperative that you add your Batch: 24/00319/IPD as the subject of any correspondence with: (Courier Company) to ensure they respond in a timely manner. I will require a concise update on proceedings with the firm as soon as you are in contact with them. If you need any assistance whatsoever, please do not hesitate to let me know.

Regards
Mr. Richard Barnard

==================================================================
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