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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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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.

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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "certified bank draft" (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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • +31620048924 (Netherlands, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • directnl34@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Torril Mitch <torrilmit84@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 21 Jun 2007 19:58:07 +0000
Subject: CONNGRATULATIONS (Payment Reference Number: SIL/88-5/0007.)


Dear Sir/Madam.In furtherance to the publication of the official results of our Email Sweepstakes Promo, the Management of Staatsloterij International wishes to inform you that your electronic mail address as attached to Serial Number: 223155-06 and selected by our Electronics Games System, has won you an award of 1,000,000.00euro (One Million Euro Only) in our Sweepstakes Promo in the 3rd category with a Payment Reference Number: SIL/88-5/0007. You are therefore been approved to apply for a payment claim of 1,000,000:00euro (One Million Euro Only). Be informed here that all email addresses that were used in this program were extracted from the Internet without the knowledge of each beneficiary hence you shouldn’t be worried about how we got your email address.From Staatsloterij International, do contact the approved payment Financial Firm on the information below for your winning claimsMiller Green (Mr.),Gilmac Financial Services NLTelephone: +31-620-048924Fax Number: +31-847-300969E-mail:directservices@myway.comE-mail:gilmacfinance@gmail.comwith the following information.(1)Your Full Names (2)Residential Address (3)Telephone/Fax Numbers (4)Occupation (5)Age (6)Payment Reference Number (7)Amount approved (won).Your winning claims processes will commence as soon as the claims processing firm receive your details. All funds not applied for two weeks after the day this notification email was sent, will be regarded as unclaimed funds. In other not to complicate the claim processes, we advices that you keep a copy of this message safe until your claim has been processed and collected either through the Bank-to-Bank Transfer means or in a Certified Bank Draft. This program was conducted as anew promotional means of introducing our sweepstake services, to encourage the use of the internet and promote computer literacy worldwide while at the same time as a means of providing each beneficiary with capital funds for positive investment purposes.Congratulations from our company as we expect you to make good use of the funds.Sincerely Yours,Torill Micht (PhD).Head, Promo Team.Email:directnl34@hotmail.com
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam