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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "vittorio foundation" (not involved with lotteries)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "anti-terrorism certificate" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
  • "clear source of funds certificate" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
  • "insurance fee " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. )
  • "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "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. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• 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!

Fraud email example:

From: ECOWAS OFFICE <ecowasoffice11@yahoo.it>
Date: Sat, 16 Jun 2007 10:48:15 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: CHOOSE AN OPTION FOR SHIPEMENT


ECOWAS HEAD OFFICE
PLOT 4, BLOCK 23, GARKI, ABUJA NIGERIA



CONCERN: ,

Congratulation, a cheque has been issued in your name and we have concluded the processing of all documents that will facilitate the clearance of the cheque in your Bank. This documents includes the following:

1.DONATION CHEQUE VALUED THE SUM OF US$2,500,000.00.
2.DONATION CERTIFICATE FROM THE VITTORIO FOUNDATION,ITALY.
3.CLEAR SOURCE OF FUNDS CERTIFICATES(C.S.F.C.)
4.ANTI-TERRORISM CERTIFICATES(A.T.C)
5.BENEFICIARY PAYMENT FORM(KINDLY NOTE THAT THIS IS THE FORM THAT STATES THE BENEFICIARIES NAME AND BANK NAME THAT WILL RECEIVE THE CHEQUE.)
6.LETTER OF AFFIDAVITS FROM THE NIGERIAN HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE, STATING THAT THE DONATION WAS RECEIVED LEGALLY FROM THE UNIVERSAL DONATION PROGRAME, AND DUELY SIGNED BY THE LEGAL ATTORNEY TO THE ECOWAS.

These documents have been securely sealed and packed for security reasons which makes it impossible for anyone to view it until its been delivered to you.


Description of parcel to be delivered
An original certificate of Donation..............0.27kg
Bank Cheque ......................................0.17kg
Clear source of funds certificates ...............0.21kg
Certificates of Origin.............................0.19kg
Letter of Affridavits.............................0.24kg
Total weight of parcel ...........................1.08kg
Color of parcel .................................Brown
Delivery Status ................................. Awaiting your choice of delivery and insurance fee confirmation
Receivers Name:........................................

Find below our delivery options which you are required to choose the one that is most convinient to you.

DHL


Cost of delivery
Mailing: $40.00
insurance $1000.00



FEDEX

Cost of delivery
Mailing: $35.00
insurance $1000.00


UPS
Cost of delivery
Mailing: $30.00
insurance $1000.00









NOTE: THE INSURANCE FEE (US$1000) IS ABSOLUTELY COMPULSORY, AND MUST BE PAID BEFORE THE SHIPMENT OF YOUR PARCEL WHILE THE MAILING FEE SHOULD BE PAID TO THE DELIVERY AGENT THAT WILL DELIVER YOUR PARCEL TO YOUR DOORSTEP).

Due to the diplomatic content of your parcel, it will be illegal to ship it without being insured as it will violate the federal delivery rules governing diplomatic parcel delivery. This means payment for the insurance fee must be made before shipment to avoid risk. This is because of some bad experience we had in the past. We can not afford to re-issue your cheque if anything goes wrong. In this case payment for the insurance fee is absolutely compulsory, while the mailing fee should be paid to any of the above listed delivery company you choose at the point of delivery.


Note: that your prize is protected by a hardcover insurance policy, which makes it impossible to deduct any amount from the money before remittance. This means that the above insurance charges cannot be deducted from the prize and hence must be provided by you before your parcel is shipped. This is in accordance with section 13(1)(n) of the international gambling act as adopted in 1993 and amended on 3RD july 1996 by the constitutional assembly.This is to protect receipients and to avoid misappropriation of funds


We will advise that as soon as payment has been made, you are required to scan and send the payment slip for proper verifications before parcel can be released.so you are to get back to us as soon as an option as been choosed by you.























BE INFORMED THAT WE ARE USING CASHIER CHEQUE OPTION, DUE TO THE HUGE CUSTOM, TAXES AND DELAY INVOLVED MOSTLY IN THE TRANSFER OF HUGE SUMS OF MONEY.

WARM REGARDS

MR. MUSA FADIGA.
COUNSELLOR ECOWAS






















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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam