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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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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:
  • "london 2012 olympics lottery promo" (no such lottery exists)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "sent to you via courier service" (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. )
  • "transfer of your funds" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "vat (5%)" (VAT rate in the UK is 17.5%, check the math)
  • "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!
• 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.
  • +447011148816 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: Graham Williams <grahamwilliams1@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2007 05:41:18 +0800 (CST)
Subject: ATTN: Alhwin Fisch


Dear Alhwin Fisch,

I had been directed to release your payment cheque to you as one of the Lucky Winners of LONDON 2012 OLYMPICS LOTTERY PROMO.

Our Delivery officer would be delivering your cheque to you through DHL to your Respective City or locations .

We would need the following informations for verification of your Details, before delivery your Winnings to your Residence Address:

Your full name.
Your age.
Phone number.
Occupation.
Postal address.
DHL Delivery Fee of &pound;460.75 POUNDS.

Your Order number is AC576543 and Identification number is {CPEL/OWN/9876} Description of parcel to be delivered:
An original certificate of weight :-------------0.6kg
Bonded cheque of weight :-------------0.7kg
Total weight of parcel :-------------0.13kg
Colour of Parcel :-------------Brown


A scanned copy of your identity such as driver's license or international passport for clearance and verification.



UNIVERSAL TRUST PREMIUM DIPLOMATIC SERVICE (48 Hrs)
Mailing &pound; 105.00 00.00 Insurance &pound; 240.00 00.00 Vat (5%) &pound; 125.75 00.00 TOTAL &pound; 460.75 00.00



Note: This means that the stated above charges cannot be deducted from your Draft Cheque and hence must be provided by you before we can deliver your Winning.

THIS IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 44 SUBSECTIONS 144 OF THE UNITED KINGDOM LOTTO COMMISSIONS GAMING REGULATIONS AS AMENDED IN THE 1996 CONSTITUTION. THIS IS TO PROTECT OUR CLIENTS AND TO AVOID
MISAPPROPRIATION OF FUNDS.

A CERTIFICATE OF PRIZE CLAIM WILL BE SENT TO YOU VIA COURIER SERVICE IMMEDIATELY TRANSFER OF YOUR FUNDS IS EFFECTED.

We want you to proceed and Send the delivery fees through Western Union Money Transfer, to our Secretary:

Name: Mr. Paul Mills
Address: 8th Floor Sea Containers
House 20 Upper Ground London SE1 9PD, England,


And after payment you are to send this informations below
(1) Receiver Name:
(2) Sender Name :
(3) Sender Address:
(4) Amount Sent:
(5) M T C N Number

This will enable the courier company(DHL) send you the winner certificate and the cheque.

I congratulate you as one of the LONDON 2012 OLYMPICS LOTTERY PROMO Winner.

N.B: Your Winner's Award certificate would be sent with your Cheque.

Please note that on no condition or circumstance must you reveal your winning ticket number to any one for this organization shall not by in anyway be held responsible for double Claiming.

Once again congratulation,await your swift response.


Best Regards,
Dr. Graham Williams (Claims Officer)
Tel:+44-701-114-8816
LONDON 2012 LOTTERY PROMO
Sweepstakes International Program








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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam