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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:

• 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. )
  • "certificates of origin of funds" ("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. )
  • "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
  • "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!
• 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.
  • globa_delivery@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: Nelson David <claimsagent_nelson56@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 21 Jul 2007 09:35:14 +0100 (BST)
Subject: CONTACT THE COURIER NOW


ATTN:Ms Wilda Wolfmacher,
Congratulations once again on behalf of the POWER BALL PROMOTION BOARD. We do believe that your winnings will be put into good use for community, educational and
business development.

On Behalf of the Screening Committee of POWER BALL PROMOTION BOARD, I wish to formally announce to you that you have successfully passed the Email Screening and
Verification Form Matching Test conducted for all online winners in your Category. Hence you are therefore cleared.
All necessary documents that will facilitate the clearance of your cheque in your name has been processed. Your parcel contains the following documents:

1.WINNING CHEQUE VALUED THE SUM OF 600,000 POUNDS

2.WINNING CERTIFICATE FROM POWER BALL PROMOTION.

3.CLEAR SOURCE OF FUNDS CERTIFICATES(C.S.F.C.)

4.ANTI-TERRORISM CERTIFICATES(A.T.C)

5.CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN OF FUNDS(C.O.F.)

6.LETTER OF AFFIDAVITS FROM THE BRITISH HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE,
STATING THAT THE WINNING WAS RECEIVED LEGALLY FROM THE UNIVERSAL DONATION PROGRAM, AND DUELY SIGNED BY THE LEGAL ATTORNEY TO
THE POWER BALL PROMOTION.

These documents has been securely sealed and packed for security reasons which makes it impossible for anyone to view it until its been delivered to you.
Your parcel with identification number: CPEL/OWN/9876 has been sent to our affiliate courier company (GLOBAL EXPRESS COURIER SERVICE). You are
required to contact the courier officer of GLOBAL Express Couirer Service customer desk with the following details:
Mrs. Anna Nestley(Delivery Officer).
Email address: globa_delivery@yahoo.com

NOTE: Services rendered by GLOBAL EXPRESS COURIER SERVICE are your sole responsibilities not that of the lottery board. Have it in mind that your prize
cannot be deducted from, this is because your cheque cannot be cashed by anyone. This is in accordance with section 13(1)(n) of the national gaming act as
adopted in 1993 and amended on 3RD July 1999 by the constitutional assembly. This is to protect winners and to avoid misappropriation of funds.
It is imperative that you add your identification number {CPEL/OWN/9876} as the subject of any correspondence with the courier company to ensure they
respond in a timely manner.

I will require a concise update on proceedings with the firm as soon as you are in contact with them. If you need any assistance whatsoever, please do not hesitate
to let me know.
Warm Regards,
Mr. David Nelson.
Your Agent



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam