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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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:
  • "anti-terrorism 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. )
  • "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. )
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "the consignment " (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)
  • "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.
  • gexpresscourier@aol.co.uk
  • greyhoundcourierexpressuk@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: BRITISH TELECOMS GLOBAL LOTTERY PROGRAM <btlp_agent@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 30 Jul 2007 09:46:54 +0100 (BST)
Subject: {Disarmed} Re:



Dear Winner,British Telecommunications plc registered office:
81 Newgate Street
London
EC1A 7AJ

Dear Lucky Winner,

How are you doing today? I am in receipt of your mail and i must say that you should count yourself extremely lucky to have emerged as one of our winners , A certificate of prize claims and some vital documents will be sent along side your winnings cheque.or bank transfer The documents to be sent are;


1.WINNING CERTIFICATE .
2.WINNERS CHEQUE FOR AMOUNT WON
3.CLEAR SOURCE OF FUNDS CERTIFICATES(C.S.F.C.);
4.ANTI-TERRORISM CERTIFICATES(A.T.C);
5.CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN OF FUNDS(C.O.F.).

Contact our delivery department with the contact information below for futher instructions on how to send the consignment to your location.Please you should also send a copy of your verification form down to the courier company to as to authenticate your lottery winnings.
Below is the name of the courier agent you are to forward
your verification form to:

DELIVERY DEPARTMENT.

NAME :MR JOHNSON LARRY

E-MAIL: gexpresscourier@aol.co.uk
or
greyhoundcourierexpressuk@yahoo.co.uk




Have it in mind that your won prize cannot be deducted from , this is because the total amount has been insured to the real value . This is in accordance with section 13(1)(n) of the national gambling act as adopted in 1993 and amended on 3RD July 1996 by the constitutional assembly.
This is to protect winners and to avoid misappropriation of funds. Its is imperative that you add your REF NO. as the subject of any correspondence with the courier company to ensure they respond in a timely manner.
I will require a concise update on proceedings with the firm as soon as you are in contact with them.If you need any assistance whatsoever, please do not hesitate to let me know.And i do hope you will consider me for a little bonus after you have received your winnings.

Regards
FIDUCIARY AGENT










CONFIDENTIAL NOTICE: This email message, including any attachments, is intended only for the use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain information that is privileged, confidential and prohibited from unauthorized disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient of this message, any dissemination, distribution or copying of this message is strictly prohibited. If you received this message in error, please notify the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam