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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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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:
  • "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "to your nominated bank account" (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)
• 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.
  • +447005802697 (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.
  • agent_jimme_oliva@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr James Oliaku" <jamesoliaku07@msn.com>
Date: Sat, 21 Jan 2006 02:31:03 +0000
Subject: LOTTERIEN WINNING

Osterreichische Lotterien
Central Office
Management and Central Services:
Rennweg 44
AT - 1038 London,England.
Reference Number: ÖL/05-AT/2673
Batch: OL/05/6565
Congratulations!!!

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the just concluded annual
final draws of Österreichische Lotterien Program. Österreichische Lotterien
draws was conducted from an exclusive list of 25,000,000 e-mail addresses of
individual and corporate bodies picked by an advanced automated random
computer ballot search from the internet as part of our international
promotions program which we conduct every year.No tickets were sold.
After this automated computer ballot, your e-mail address attached to serial
number 25-6565 drew the lucky numbers 6-13-18-24-33-39 which consequently
emerged you as one of first fifty (50) lucky winners in this category.
You have therefore been approved for a lump sum payout of 1,000,000.00 (One
Million EURO) in cash credited to file OL/05-AT/2673. This is from a total
cash prize of 50 Million Euro shared amongst the first fifty (50) lucky
winners in this category.
This year Lottery Program Jackpot is the largest ever for Österreichische
Lotterien. The estimated 50 million jackpot would be the sixth-biggest in
Europe history. The biggest was the 363 million jackpot that went to two
winners in a Febuary 2000 drawing of The Big Game Mega Millions'
predecessor.
Your fund is now deposited in an offshore bank with a hardcover insurance.
Due to the mix up of some numbers and names, we advice that you keep this
award from public notice until your claim has been processed and your money
remitted to your nominated bank account as this is part of our security
protocol to avoid double claiming or unwarranted taking advantage of this
program by the general public.

Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our European booklet
representative office in London. In view of this, your 1,000,000.00 (One
Million Euro) would be released to you by our affiliate bank in Europe.
Our agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of
your funds to you as soon as you make contact with him.
To begin your claim please contact our licensed and accredited agent
assigned to you:
Mr.Jimme oliva
Osterreichische Lotterien
Information and Payment Bureau:
London Representative Office.
Tel/Fax: +44-700-5802697
agent_jimme_oliva@yahoo.com,
Your claims agent will assist you in the processing and remittance of your
prize funds into your designated bank account.
Note that all prize funds must be claimed not later than One month. After
this date all funds will be returned to the LOTTERY TREASURY as unclaimed.
In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please endeavor to
quote your Reference Number:OL/05-AT/2673 and Batch numbers:OL/05/6565 in
every correspondence with your agent. Furthermore, should there be any
change in your address, do inform your claims agent as soon as possible.
Members of the affiliate agencies are automatically not allowed to
participate in this program.
Congratulations once again from all members of our staff and thanks for
being part of our promotions program.
Yours faithfully,
Mr. James Oliaku
Promotions Manager.


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam