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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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• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "sent to you via courier service" (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
• 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!
• Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.

Fraud email example:

From: tonyvanmore1003@netscape.net
Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2006 12:16:39 -0500
Subject: PAYMENT UPDATE

Dear Winner,
We are in receipt of your mail . Be informed that we have in our possession
instruments of payment for the sum ofUS$800.000.00 to you. To begin the process
and the transfer of your winnings, you are to send to this office your bank
co-ordinates i.e.
1. Your Bank name -
2. Account name and account number into which your winnings would be
transferred.would be handled by the paying bank. You are also to choose any of
the options below by which method you would desired to be paid:
(a) telegrapgic Wire Transfer -
(b) Certified bank Check You would also be required to pay the sum of 510 Euro (
five hundred and ten Euros)or it?s equivalent in your local Currency.
This payment is to cover transfer charges,Insurance of vital documents like
prize claim certificate and other transfer documents,handling and opening of
account charges. Payment should be through our accredited agents WESTERN UNION
MONEY TRANSFER as instructed below and sent the (MTCN)to the office by email.
Charges to be sent to details below.
NAME OF ASSISTANT ACCOUNT OFFICER :
MR. ROBERT TRISTAN
ADDRESS OF RECEIVER: LOUIS BOUWMEESTERSTRAAT 163,
1065nn AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS.
Also a Certificate Of Prize Claim Will be sent to you upon receipt of payment.
Note that your total prize claim of $800,000.00
has been insured to the
real value and as such cannot be deducted from your winnings. 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. A certificate of prize claim
along side other vital documents will be sent to you via Courier service
immediately transfer of your winnings is effected. Note that your winnings will
be transferred within 48hrs after the receipt of all the requirements. I shall
be waiting your response. Please email or contact us if you have any questions.
sincerely,
Mr. Tony Van More
___________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam