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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• 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:
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "transfer into your account" (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)
• 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.
  • +27834294878 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "danny" <danny_jordan@myway.com>
Date: Mon, 9 Jul 2007 11:29:26 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Waiting for your phone call and reply today.


Dear Winner Mr. Frau Frank,
Thank you for your last mail to this lottery office for your winning payment transfer into your account. Be informed that our office will issue you with your winning certificate to show and proof to you that you are a winner in our lottery ballot promotion that was conducted due to the world cup that we will be hosting in 2010.
As your claims agent, I will issue to you my identity copy to show you that this is 100% real. I will like you to call me today for us to clarify all the procedures on your winning to enable me prepare your winning certificate. Kindly forward to me your direct contact mobile phone number.
Congratulations once again.
Mr. Danny Jordan.
Your claims agent.
+27-83-429-4878.


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam