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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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
  • "cost of mailing your draft" (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. )
  • "payment for the courier" (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. )
  • "vat (5%)" (VAT rate in the UK is 17.5%, check the math)
  • "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "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!

Fraud email example:

From: "BBC LOTTERY NATIONAL RESULT VERIFICATION DEPT." <bbc.verificationdept@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2007 11:58:24 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Re: DELIVERY OPTIONS AND CHARGES


Attn: Mr Lothar Zweig,

Compliment of the day,

We received your mail and we have contacted the bank to stop the transaction on your prize.

I also forwarded your mail to the Board of Directors and you have been approved to claim your prize by the delivery of a bank Draft issued on your name "Mr Lothar Zweig" to your physical mailing address.

All your winning documents which include a Certified Cheque on your name "Mr Lothar Zweig", original copy of this certificate of winning, together with a covering document (Money Laundering protection and Letter of Affidavit for Claims) from the British government stating that the money was obtained legally through their BBC NATIONAL LOTTERY will be sent to you as soon as you meet with any of the options selected via our courier services.

You can now begin the final step of the claims process, which is the transferring of your cash Price to you. With regards to this, there are three courier service options open to you.

You are required to select the most convenient of the four and immediately get back to us for adequate instructions .
Delivery Destination:- Deutschland Name on Consignment: Mr Lothar Zweig
Mobile No: +49 1377481168
Delivery Address: Bremergaerten 9
Ringheil
73999
Deutschland, Germany.


You are to pick one of the below Courier Service, that will take charge of the delivery of your consignment.

The options, together with their associated conditions are presented below:-





FedEx COURIER COMPANY 48hour Delivery

Government Tax: £310:00 GBP

Mailing:: £390:00 GBP

Insurance: £200:00 GBP

Vat (5%) £45:00 GBP

TOTAL COST: £945:00 GBP


*****************************************





DHL COURIER COMPANY 48hour Delivery

Government Tax: £300:00 GBP

Mailing:: £320:00 GBP

Insurance: 190:00 GBP

Vat (5%) £40:00 GBP

TOTAL COST: £850:00 GBP


*****************************************





UPS COURIER COMPANY 48hour Delivery


Government Tax: £350:00 GBP

Mailing:: £420:00 GBP

Insurance: £200:00 GBP

Vat (5%) £48:00 GBP

TOTAL COST: £1,018:00 GBP



The insurance company declined reverse payment for the courier, stating that it is against their professional policy towards ensuring the safe delivery of the draft & winning documents to you.

That if a reverse payment is made, and something goes wrong, that you can sue the courier company or insurance company to recover the full value of the fund as stipulated in the draft since payment for insurance cover was made at point of mailing.

With the above reason, reverse payment is ruled out. Forward the cost of mailing your draft with any of the affiliate Courier Company cost you choose above to us.

Note that your funds have been insured and no deductions of any kind can be made on your funds.

Acknowledge receipt of this mail so we can send you information on how to make payment for the required charges and also send you your Tracking Code {TRC} for your delivery package to be delivered to you via your most convenient Courier Company.

Congratulations Once More as we await your swift response that will enhance the prompt delivery of your consignment to your mailing address in Deutschland.


Mr. Jones Fox
BBC National Lottery



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam