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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:
  • "rovex house, hay hall rd." (address often used in fake lottery scams)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "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!
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • +447011121348 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: teddy williams <teddywilliams_chamber@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2007 11:29:37 +0100 (BST)
Subject: LOTTERY AWARD APPROVED(CONTACT THE COURIER COMPANY)




Dear Winner


The President, board of trustee, and the entire member of staff of the Microsoft Organization send their warmest congratulatory message to you this day, on the final approval of your won sum in these category of the Microsoft Online Program.

Be informed that the Lottery Claims Verification Department has completely verified and the information you presented, as directed by the board of directors of the Microsoft Organization,I am pleased to inform you that you are eligible to receive your won prize. Your funds have been duly insured by the British Insurance Corporation (BIC) to its real value £1,000,000 G.B.P.this makes deduction not possible as the insured amount have been tagged "Ready for Payment to Winner" by the Microsoft International.therefore we have notified the Courier company on this note and you are to forward the information below to the Courier company for swift release of your funds. Your winning Certificate has been dispach to the official Courier company for the immediate release of your funds.


1)Amount Won:
2)Ref No:
3)CHIP NO:
4)Country:
5)Telephone No.:
6)Mobile No.:
7)Fax:

Courier Contact Details
AlertPay courier Express Rovex House, Hay Hall Rd., Tyseley,
Birmingham.. B11 2AG. England


Contact Person: Steven Walker
E-mail:customercare@alert-pay.org
Phone:+44-7011121348

Note that your funds have been insured to its real value and no deductions of any kind can be made from your winnings and as such you will be responsible for the Courier Charges

Please if you do not wish to abide with our payment prceedure,I advice you decline and send a Letter of Disclaimer and do not contact theCourier Company
Congratulations once again from all members of our staff, and thank you for being part of our promotions program.

We await your swift response.


Regards,

Barr.Teddy Willaims
Fiduciary Agent
Microsoft Mega E-mail Lottery Program
Tel.:+44-7011130095
Fax.:+448704783718

BARRISTER TEDDY WILLIAMS ESQ.
PRINCIPAL PARTNERS: Barrister Aidan Walsh.Esq Markus Wolfgang, Mr. John Marvey Esq, Mr. Jerry Smith Esq
Microsoft Mega promotions, property of the PlasmaNet Inc. Copyright 2007®.. All Rights reserved.


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam