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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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:
  • "money transfer control number" (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "affidavit " (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)
• 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.
• 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.
  • +447011134067 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: LEGAL ASSOCIATES ATTORNEY CHAMBERS <legalassociatesdesk@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2007 08:46:29 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: DOCUMENT PROCUREMENT INFORMATION FROM TERRY HUNT


TERRY HUNT AND ASSOCIATE
LEGAL ATTORNEY





12-02-2007




4 ROSEVILLE CRESCENT
PARK WAY,WC1N 2LA
LONDON ENGLAND.
TEL: +44-701113 4067
FAX: 44-8701213851




ATTN: Asta Larusdottir,


Madam,
Compliments of the day to you; I will be representing you with the document procurement/legal and transfer modalities. I know this is hard to imagine, but you have truely won, and your information is just required to file and process your claims, so there is no mis-information or mis-appropriation of funds. I belief your fiduciary agent has informed you about proceedings, before you contacted me.

As regards your question on whether the funds is to be taken out of the winnings, this is certainly not possible, as this funds have been insured to the total sum of USD$2,500,000. 00, and beneficiary are to confirm upon transfer this sum and as such can not be deducted from the winnings or tempered with; the payment is for legal services rendered on your behalf as well as procurement, this payment will be made to our accounts officer who in turn will confirm the payment and I will proceed immediately upon confirmation of your payment. I want to assure you that if the payment can be done today, I will procure the required documents and this will reach you latest wednesday 14th of Febuary 2006, because I have a lot of work at hand and we then can proceed with the transfer modalities on friday 16th of Febuary 2006. The payment instruction is detailed below for your notice.

Note, that your file has also been forwarded to me by the LOTTERY BOARD, for necessary action to commence. Regarding issues or questions on travelling; this is why an attorney is representing you on the procurement/legal process as well as transfer modalities, as we have had cases in the past pertaining to misappropriation of funds and related cases of impersonation, to mention but a few. All your information is safe, but for any reason you decide to make any change in furture, please do not hesitate to notify me.

Note that the LOTTERY commission has taken all insurance risk involved in the funds, but as you are an oversea winner, you will be required to procure a non-residential permit which in turn will make the MINISTRY OF FINANCE (INLAND REVENUE BOARD) issue your clearance certificate, so you do not have any problems with your authorities when your winnings is been transffered, due to the large sum. So you can proceed with the procurement payment for acquiring your non-residential permit. Once this is done, your FUND RELEASE PAPERS will be issued by the INTERNAL/INLAND REVENUE BOARD (MINISTRY OF FINANCE). Note also that soon as the non-residential permit is approved, I will take your file to the bank; as your account will be opened by the LOTTERY BOARD, with the total sum of £3000 (BRISTISH POUNDS STERLING) paid in full, then your winning cheque will be approved and deposited in that account to clear for four (4) days, before an onward transfer to your nominated account of your
chioce.

A copy of your WINNING CERTIFICATE along with a copy of the LETTER OF AFFIDAVIT OF CLAIMS will be forwarded to you in the next 24hrs; the affidavit of claims is been forwarded to you for you to attest your signatory as declarant of the winnings and return for copies to be attached in your file. Upon receipt of the signed affidavit, your CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE will be issued. Note that your information is not to be used for any other purpose rather than for the claims process.

Let me bring to your notice that there are policies laid down by the Lottery Board and such policies include winners making their payment via Western Union Money Transfer. The reason why charges have to be made via western union in London is because the Cost of these documents will be paid into our account in Bank of England as a direct deposit. Note that your total prize claim of USD$2, 5000,000.00 has been insured to the real value and as such cannot be deducted from. This is in accordance with section 13(n) of the national gambling act as adopted in1993 and amended on 3RD July 1996 by the constitutional assembly. This is to protect winners and to avoid misappropriation of funds. I do inform that a cheque of USD2.5Million dollars has been written down in your name by the lottery organisation and has been insured with a hard cover policy as a result; winners funds cannot be tampered with or deducted from; the Government requires that we show proff that you have been
cleared by the relevant Ministries, those are the documents listed above; which will identify you as the original benefactor of the funds.

Please note as I believe your fiduciary agent has informed you and be aware that the procurement payment which must be paid before transfer. The payment is to be made via WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER/QUICK COLLECT. When you get to western union I belief you definitely have an outlet around you in your neighborhood, get a transfer form and fill it with the information below, once that is done make out your payment; After payment you will be given a ten digit number, this is a security code for the payment made, it is called MONEY TRANSFER CONTROL NUMBER (M.T.C.N). Forward the payment information also detailed below immediately to this office via email. Be careful with your information to avoid any problems and let no body have it because we have had cases in the past, to mention but a few. The accounts officer name who will receive the payment are detailed below:

PROCUREMENT/LEGAL COST: £1, 965 BRITISH POUNDS STERLING

NAME OF RECEIVER: DUANE JAMES WALKER
ADDRESS: 23 ROSEVILLE STREET, PARK WAY,
WC1N 2LA LONDON ENGLAND.

Once payment is made; the payment information after payment should be forwarded to this office via email this must include:

NAME OF SENDER.................
AMOUNTSENT.................
ADDRESS OF SENDER....................
MONEY TRANSFER CONTROL NUMBER (M.T.C.N)....................

All winning numbers and serial numbers as well as your documents when they get to you should be kept from public notice to avoid double claims. Follow all instructions carefully to avoid any misinformation and cases of multiple claims and misappropriation of funds; and always indicate your password for security and identity reasons. Always indicate your password for security and identity purposes.


Please call if any questions Tel: +44 701113 4067

Do reply ASAP.



Your's Faithfully,
JEFFERY BROOK
LEGAL ATTORNEY.

Password
"transfer slip"





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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam