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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:
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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "20 craven park, harlesden" (address often used in fake lottery scams)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "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!
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • barrowentobi@yahoo.co.uk
  • barrowentobi@myway.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: max46life@comcast.net
Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2008 03:01:15 +0000
Subject: Microsoft Promotion Award Claims!

Microsoft Award Team,20 Craven Park, Harlesden,London NW10,United Kingdom.
Ref: BTD/968/05,Batch: 409978E
Dear Sir/Madam,
WINNING NOTIFICATION
The Micrsoft has set out a Sweepstakes, marking the end of year anniversary.We rolled out over $250,000(two hundred
and fifty thousand dollars) for our end of year Anniversary Draws. Participants for the draws were randomly selected and
drawn from a wide range of web hosts which we enjoy their patronage.

The selection was made through a computer draw system attaching personalised email addresses to ticket numbers.
Your email address attached to ticket number 008795727498 with serial numbers BTD/9080648302/06 and drew the lucky numbers
14-21-25-39-40-47(20) which subsequently won you $100,000.00 (one Hundred Thousand Dollars) already issued in a cheque as one
of the 10 jackpot winners in this draw. You have therefore won the entire winning sum of $100,000.00 (one Hundred Thousand
Dollars).
Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our Africa booklet representative in west Africa indicated in your
play coupon, In view of this, your US$100,000.00 (Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) cheque would be released to you by
our fiduciary agent in West Africa.

Make contact with your designated agent who shall by duty guide you through the process to facilitate the release of your
winning cheque.
Barrister Owen Tobi.
Microsoft Promotion Award Team
Email: barrowentobi@yahoo.co.uk,barrowentobi@myway.com

Contact your fiduciary agent with the following details to avoid unnecessary delays and complications with your Name (in
Full), Country, Ticket Number, Batch Number, Serial Number and Lucky Numbers as indicated in this winning Notification.

PLEASE NOTE! Any claim not made before Ten (10) working days from date of notification will indicate that the winner has
voluntarily forfeited his/her winnings,
Sincerely,
Kate Watters.
Microsoft Promotion Team.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam