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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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• 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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "million dollars" (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)
  • "million british pounds" (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)
  • "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "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 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.
  • globalexpresscourier1999@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • globalexpresscourier1010@laposte.net (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "frank mark" <frankmarkclaim@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2008 09:35:03 +0800
Subject: CONTACT THE COURIER FIRMS NOW AND GET BACK TO ME ASAP..


*MS WORD SUPER MEGA JACKPOT
LOTTERY.PAYMENT CENTER UK
PROCESSING OFFICER:MR. FRANK MARK*
*61-70 Southampton Row, Bloomsbury,
London, United Kingdom, WC1B 4AR
DIRECTOR:MR. KENT ANDERSON.



REF NO: MSW-L/200-26937
BATCH: 2005MJL-01



ATTENTION:Microsoft(R) Winner,


I received your email,I am sorry for the delay.Be informed,I have just
forwarded your winning check of GBP 5.5,MILLION BRITISH POUNDS($10.4MILLION
DOLLARS) to the courier firm that will handle the delivery. It will be
delivered to you within 24hours after you have taken care of the required
cost. The courier company will make all the necessary arrangement for the
insurance, and the administrative charges that you will be taking care of.
You should know that the charges are quiet high compare to other courier
firm. This is due to the insurance and other measure taken to secure your
prize.

Do make sure you contact the courier firm to confirm via email or you can
fax to their office the receipt of your prize delivery.

You will be given three different delivery status including a bank transfers
reference in which you are to choose one, you have the right to choose ONLY
one delivery status. This courier firm has been one of our lottery sponsors
since the origin of this lottery so we make it a possibility that your prize
money will be couriered to you through this courier firm.

They are reliable and fast in delivery of parcel. Be careful of scam artist
they are every where you should make sure you keep your winning numbers and
this whole winnings as a secrete as the prize money is no longer with us it
has been forwarded to the courier firm. Some people might just go to the
courier firm with all your details claiming they are the actual winner to
claim your prize. So be careful of everybody around you. We have seen many
situations of double claim and most times it is either one of their family
member or a friend will go behind you and claim your prize. Most times tell
you to forget about it. So be careful, I wish you the best in life with your
prize(money).

You are to contact the courier firm handling officer/fiduciary at once with
your full name, address and valid contact phone number and all the
requirements to sending your cashier certified cheque to you.

You should also send to the courier firm all your winning details like,
Reference number, amount won, and the name of lottery won.Below are their
contact details:


GLOBAL EXPRESS COURIER
Depot: GLASGOW SOUTH
Address: 87 Hydepark Street
Finnieston Glasgow G3 8BW
Handling Officer: Mr.HAROLD NEWTON.**
E-mail: globalexpresscourier1999@yahoo.co.uk
ALT EMAIL: globalexpresscourier1010@laposte.net **

NOTICE:
-------
IF YOU NEED THE OINLINE BANKING TO BANK WIRING TRANSFER,ENSURE TO MAKE WRITE
BACK TO ME FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE ONLINE BANKING TRANSACTIONS.IF YOU
PREFER TO COME DOWN TO OUR COUNTRY LONDON UNITED KINGDOM TO OME AND CARRY
YOUR OVERALL TOTAL WINNINGS PRIZE(MONEY),YOU ARE ADVICED TO KEEP OUR OFFICE
POSTED AND INFORMED AT ASAP FOR AN IMMEDIATE PREPARATIONS.I WILL INFORM YOU
ON ALL THE ARRANGEMENTS AND DETAILS YOU WILL NEED.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR CORRESPONDINGS.PLEASE KEEP ALL YOUR WINNING
REFERENCES AND BATCH NUMBERS VERY CONFIDENTIAL AND SECURED UNTILL YOU HAVE
FULLY RECEIVED YOUR OVERALL WINNING PRIZE(MONEY) TO SIMPLY AVOID DISCLAIMER
OR "DOUBLE CLAIMS"THANK YOU.


You are to keep me fully informed on all developments.!!!CONGRATULATIONS
ONCE AGAIN!!!!.

HAVE A NICE & A BLISSFUL LIFE.


Yours Sincerely,
**MR. FRANK MARK**,
MSW CLAIMS/FIDUCIARY OFFICER.
==============================**==============================**===========
==============================**==============================**===========
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. *

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam