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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
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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:
  • "british lottery international" (no such lottery exists)
• 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.
  • +447031945221 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +447031912511 (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.
  • apxparceldelivery@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: CUSTOMER CARE BRITISH INTERNATIONAL <british_internationalonline@yahoo.ie>
Date: Sun, 29 Jul 2007 13:06:08 +0100 (BST)
Subject: FUNDS REMITTANCE OPTIONS.






British Lottery Headquarters:
Customer Service
28 TANFIELD ROAD,
CROYDON,LONDON.

Ref: BTL/491OXI/04
Batch: 12/25/0304
BRITISH LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY




Attn: Kumud Gurdayaly


I congratulate you once again for being one of the winners of the British International Lottery. I also want you to be informed that you have been verified by this department and we have approved the release of your prize fund of £2,500,000.00 GBP. The original winning certificate will be sent to you along with your prize funds.

I am the processing agent responsible for your payment file and also it is my duty to give you guidelines on the available remittance options to claim your prize money.You are required to choose your preferred option and send to me immediately to enable me instruct you further.


1) Online Bank Transfer: Transfer of your prize money to your designated bank account via our affiliate bank here in the UK. (6 to 24Hours). Your funds will be transferred to your designated bank in your country and it will reflect within 6 to 24hours. For further information about the Online Bank Transfer Options, please contact the transferring bank for more info.

POST BANK PLC UK
ZONAL OFFICE, OFFSHORE PAYMENT CENTER
Mr.... Paul Cody (The Finance Operations Manager)
Tel: +44 703 194 5221
Fax:+31 847 581 627-25
Emaill: fundstransfer@postbonline.net




2) Courier Option: Your prize money will be made available to you in check and will be delivered to your destination in two days including your winning documents under the supservision of our dispatch agent through any of their courier channels. For details about these information,please contact the Dispatch Manager Air Parcel Express Couirer.

MR GARY WALTER (Apx Parcel Express Couirer)
Email:apxparceldelivery@yahoo.co.uk
Tel: + 44 703 191 2511

Please be informed that you are to make your choice for funds remittance to you and get back to me as soon as possiable.

Regards

Mr Vincent Trade
British International Lottery
Tel: + 44 703 190 3501


Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com
Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam