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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:
  • "microsoft lottery" (no such lottery exists)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "clear source of funds certificate" ("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. )
  • "certificates of origin of funds" ("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. )
  • "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.
  • +447031934950 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +4407045731117
• 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.
  • mrrichard.rovers@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: "CLAIMS DEPARTMENTAL OFFICE LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM"
<claimsdepartmental01@hotmail.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 3 Oct 2008 18:30:36 +0000
Subject:
=?windows-1256?Q?Your_parcel_with_Identification_Number_{GCS/0988}=FE=FE?=








Microsoft Corporations:
Customer Service
Wrights Lane,
Kensington London W85SP,
England UNITED KINGDOM
REFERENCE NO: MSW-L/200-26937
BATCH NO: 2008OCTTL#22
Attention: Ruby Colleen Wiedemann,
On behalf of the screening committee of the Microsoft Lottery Promotions, I wish to formally announce to you that you have successfully passed the Email screening and Verification test and clarification from our payment Office. All necessary documents that will facilitate the clearance of your Cheque Of £450,000.00 (Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand Great British Pounds Sterling) in your name has been processed and Sealed in Your Winning parcel Which contains the following documents: 1. WINNING CHEQUE VALUED £450.000.00 (Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand Great British Pounds Sterling) 2. WINNING CERTIFICATE FROM THE MICROSOFT PROMOTIONS AWARD. 3. CLEAR SOURCE OF FUNDS CERTIFICATES (C.S.F.C.) 4. CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN OF FUNDS (C.O.F.) These documents has been securely sealed and packed for security reasons which makes it impossible for anyone to view it until its been delivered to you. Your parcel with Identification Number {GCS/0988} has been sent to A Courier Company (FIRST MERIT COURIER SERVICE). You are required to Contact the Dispatch Unit of First Merit Courier Service with IMMEDIATE EFFECT SO AS TO SPEED UP THE DELIVERY OF YOUR WINNINGS via email or call with the following details. {Mr.Nicholas Parker}Managing Director.Email: customerdesk@firstmeritcourierservice.comTel:+447031934950 +447031949797 +447031934884
Fax: +44(0)7045731117 NOTE:This office will not be responsible for any outstanding fees. Services rendered by the Courier Company are to be paid by you and not the lottery board, for the fact that the lottery organisers didn't make any provision for any upcoming expenses, regarding delivery of parcel or any such. It is imperative that you Quote your Parcel Identification Number in your mail to First Merit Courier Services for Easy Identification of your Parcel In Their Company. I will Require a Concise Update as soon as you are in contact with the Courier Company. Congratulations once more. Regards***************************************************************************************Foreign Transfer ManagerMr.Richard Rovers.
Email:mrrichard.rovers@yahoo.co.uk
Microsoft corporation Company.
Microsft Claims Department:claimsdepartmental01@hotmail.co.ukPhone: ++447031972944 ++447031949778Fax: +44(0)7035771178
***************************************************************************************
_________________________________________________________________
Win New York holidays with Kellogg’s & Live Search
http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/111354033/direct/01/

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam