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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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "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.
  • +66875479224 (Thailand, probably a mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: coodintorb4 <a.coordinatorb.b093@gmail.com>
Reply-To: coordinator234@live.com
Date: Sun, 31 Aug 2008 20:02:20 -1200
Subject: UK-THAILAND LOTTERY ORGANIZATION


UK-THAILAND LOTTERY ORGANIZATION
NO 4, RAJIMOND STREET BANGKOK THAILAND
ASIA.TICKET FREE/ONLINE E-MAIL ADDRESS WINNINGS DEPARTMENT.

UK-THAILAND LOTTO ONLINE WINNINGS NOTIFICATION OF US$4.1M.

If you are the correct owner of this email address,Be glad this day as the
result of the UK-Thaland lottery Online E-mail Winning draws and sweepstakes
held in BANGKOK-THAILAND on the 29th of August 2008 has just been released
and we are glad to announce to you that your e-mail address has won you the
lottery in the first category and you are entitled to claim the sum of
US$4.1M.


Your email addresses was entered for the online draw on Lucky
#:GHDJ487304JDGD9W.

You are to contact Mr Mike Lee. on the below email address for quick
delivery of your won cheque of US$4.1M. All winners cheque are certified
cashiers and are cashable in any country of any part of the world. To enable
the Courier Company ascertain you as the rightful receiver of the cheque,
includethe below listed information in your contact mail.


Your country, complete official names, contact telephone, mobile and fax
numbers, amount won, sex, age, occupation and job title, address where your
wishto receive your winnings cheque, ticket and lucky number and lastly the
date/venue of draw.As stated.

1.FULL NAME..........................................
2.COUNTRY OF ORIGIN........................
3.PRESENT ADRESS............................
4.POSTCODE.............................................
5.DATE OF BIRTH....................................
6.OCCUPATION.........................................
7.SEX...........................................................
8.TELEPHONE NUMBER........................
9.FAX NUMBER(IF ANY)..........................
10.MARITAL STATUS.................................

Email-Address:coordinator234@live.com<Email-Address%3Acoordinator234@live.com>

Contact Agent: Mr Mike Lee.

Telephone: +66875479224.

Yours Truly,

Mr Mike Lee.
Co-ordinator.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam