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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "fiduciary agent" (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.
  • +27724032806 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • claims_agentdept12@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: claims_agentdept12@yahoomail.com
Date: Thu, 12 Jan 2006 10:58:53 +0200
Subject: CONGRATULATION,YOU ARE A LUCKY WINNER!!!

FROM THE DESK OF THE MANAGING DIRECTOR

INTERNATIONAL/PRIZE AWARD DEPT


WINNING NUMBERS:37-13-43-85-67-11.BV


REF:S6376527711


BATCH:S7151085135



Attn:Dear Lucky Winner



We are please to announce you as one of the 10 lucky winners in Global the FreeLotto draw held on the 11TH OF JANUARY, 2006. All 10 winning addresses were randomly selected from a batch of 50,000,000 International emails.



Your email address emerged alongside 9 others as a category one winner in this year's Annual FreeLotto Draw. Consequently,you have therefore been approved for a total pay out of $1.500,00USD(one million, Five hundred Thuosand Dollars only)



CONGRATULATIONS!!!



Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep your winning information confidential until your claims has been processed and your money Remitted to you. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some participants. All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from over 40,000 company and 20,000,000 individual email addresses and names from all over the world.



This promotional program takes place every year. This lottery was promoted and sponsored by Association of software producers. We hope with part of your winning,you will take part in our next year US$20 million international lottery.For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claims is processed and your money remitted to you in whatever manner you deem fit to claim your prize. This is a part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some unscrupulous elements.



Please be warned. To file for your claim, please contact our fiduciary agent with the below details for processing of your claims:



NAME:DR DESMOND ARMSTRONG

(CHIEF FINANCIAL DIRECTOR

GLOBAL TRUST AND FINANCE BV)

EMAIL:claims_agentdept12@yahoo.co.uk

TEL:+27-724 032 806



Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than 31ST JANUARY,2006.After this date all unclaimed funds will be included in the next stake.



Please note in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications please remember to quote your reference number and batch numbers in all correspondence.

Furthermore, should there be any change of address do inform our agent as soon as possible.
Congratulations once more from our members of staff and thank you for being part

of our promotional program.

Note:

Anybody under the age of 18 is automatically disqualified.



Yours faithfully,
Dr David Campbell
AFRO-ASIAN Zonal Coordinator.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam