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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "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!
• 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.
  • +447031909081 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +447031905055 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "TOYOTA COMPANY" <TOYOTACOMPANY@hamdard.net.pk>
Reply-To: claimsadd@hotmail.com
Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:01:02 +0500
Subject: CONTACT THE DELIVERY FIRM FOR YOUR PARCEL

CONTACT THE DELIVERY FIRM FOR YOUR PARCEL

ATTENTION :Jack gallup

CONGRATULATIONS!This is to inform you that you have been cleared a
winner of the TOYOTA EMAIL AWARD PROMO ON-LINE LOTTERY Sweepstakes
International program UK. I am happy to inform you that i have
forwarded your Original Certificate and your Certified bank cheque and
toyota car to the courier company. Find below the details of the
courier company.

we here by inform you that we have processed your payment and your
cheque is ready for disbursement, along with your winnings certificate.
In this regard also your funds deposited with us is not in liquid form
but in Bank Cheque,this advice complies with the Anti-Fraud section
2,subsection(iv)of the procedural manualof the funds disbursement
agreement existing between courier companies and the British Government.


Mr. Paul Walker
AGC COURIER COMPANY SERVICES UK
Tel Phone:+44-703-190-5055 or +44-703-197-0070
E-mail:agccourier.company@rogers.com



You are advised to send the courier company a mail to their email
address for their notification of your delivery parcel to you.When
contacting them,you are to include this order number as your
subject.Please you are advised to write down the order number and save
it.

ORDER NUMBER AGC2312942UK

1.FULL NAMES:
2.DELIVERY ADDRESS:
3.SEX:
4.MARITAL STATUS:
5.TELEPHONE:
6.COUNTRY/STATE:

(A)THE CASHIER CHEQUE OF THE SAID AMOUNT WILL BE SENT TO YOU BY THE AGC
COURIER SERVICE UK COURIER COMPANY.

So that they can honour your letter.Once again I say congratulations
and always inform me with your dealings with the courier company.
Thanks,

Claims Agent,
Mr. James Cole
Tel: +44 703 190 9081 or +44 703 190 3313
TOYOTA EMAIL AWARD PROMO ON-LINE UK

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam