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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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "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. )
• 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.
  • +447011147750 (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.
  • transfer_department04@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Richard Quest" <western_expo1@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: transfer_department04@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2007 19:07:35 -0500
Subject: YOUR PRIZE....

Ref Nr:  PBL/CN/6654/CP
Coupon No. BL2348974321
cash prize ($150,481.00USD)
Prize Winner,
       
                  
The Europe/ America private international e-games organizers and co-sponsors, POWERBALL LOTTERY Group International, officially bring to your notice, the final draw result of the POWERBALL LOTTERY-wheel E-game which was conducted at our international corporate office complex in The UNITED KINGDOM.
Your email address have won a cash prize of ($150,481.00USD) credited to file pbl/9011218308/04. 
For processing of your winning claim, please contact the Due Processing Unit.With the following details for the release of your winnings..
Fill the Below informations and send to  the fiduciary agent for your
claims verification:
 1.FULL NAMES OF BENEFICIARY:
 2.RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS:
 3.DATE AND PLACE OF BIRTH:
 4.PHONE/FAX NUMBERS:
 5.NAME AND ADDRESS OF NEXT OF KIN:
 6.SEX:
 7.OCCUPATION:
 8.MARITAL STATUS:
9.AMOUNT WON:
10.NATIONALITY:
PAYMENT MODE: OPTIONS
1-BANK TO BANK.
2-CERTIFIED CHEQUE MADE OUT IN YOUR NAME COURIERED TO BE DELIVERED TO YOUR ADDRESS VIA OUR    AFFILIATE COURIER COMPANY.
3-DO YOU WANT TO COME TO THE UNITED KINGDOM TO PERSONALLY CLAIM YOUR WINNINGS?

Please contact

Mr. Richard Quest,

CLAIMS PROCESSING  LOTTERY AGENT.
TRANS-ATLANTIC S.A LIVERPOOL, UNITED KINGDOM
Contact Email:  transfer_department04@yahoo.co.uk

 

Phone:  +447011147750
       
NOTE:BENEFICIARIES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR TRANSFER CHARGES. PLEASE INDICATE OPTION THAT BEST SUITS YOU.Please be inforemed that we cannot deduct any fees from your winnings as this cannot be done by anyone but you.So the issue of deduct from my winnings will not work.
DECLARATION:
I...............HEREBY DECLARE THAT THE ABOVE DATA ARE TRUE. IN CASE OF ANY UNFORSEEN CIRCUSTANCE,MY NEXT OF KIN HAS THE RIGHT TO CLAIM MY TOTAL WINNINGS.(SUPER STANDARD AGENT) SHALL ACT AS MY AGENT
INFACILITATING THE TRANSFER OF THE TOTAL FUND TO ME.
DATE--------
Congratulations once more from all members and staffs of this program.
 Regards
Mrs Nelly White
(Group Coordinator)

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam