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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:

• 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:
  • "claims office" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
• 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.
  • +447035900008 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• 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.
  • markpeterson@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "INFO DESK" <ukonlinewinning@btconnect.com>
Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2007 03:30:53 +0100
Subject: WINNING



UK LOTTERY ONLINE NOTIFICATION DESK.
GOVERNMENT ACCREDITED LICENSED!!!
BRITISH ONLINE INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY
IS REGISTERED UNDER THE DATA PROTECTION ACT OF;
(Registration Z720633X).
PROMOTIONS/ PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT.
79 BOVILL ROAD LONDON. SE23 1EL.
Ref: EGS/2251256003/02
Batch: 14/0017/1PD
Dear Email Owner,
Your email has won a total Cash Prize Of One Million Eight Hundred and
Fifty Thousan POUNDS STERLING and a consolation prize of Dell pentium 4 laptop, T-shirt
and face cap. Contact our claims office now;
Claims Official: Mark Peterson ( Mr.)
Email:markpeterson@sify.com
Tel:+44 703 590 0008
With the following vital information:
Full Name:............................
Full Address:.........................
Nationality:..........................
Occupation:...........................
Age:..................................
Sex:..................................
Marital status:......................
Phone number{land/mobile}:............
Regards,
Mr. Mark Richards
Online National Sweepstakes

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam