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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) 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 phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • ",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)
  • "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!

Fraud email example:

From: Sean Thompson <info_seanthompson01@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 2 Aug 2007 08:30:26 +0100 (BST)
Subject: ADVISE!!!



POWERBALL LOTTO. BV
POWERBALL-WHEEL E-GAME 2007.
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION PROGRAM.

REF: PBL/CN/6654/CP

ATTN: Ms Nordica Schaefstein,

Sequel to your last mail to us,this is how it works. The POWERBALL LOTTO. BV has forwarded (1) Award Prize (Original Copy)
(2) Official Letter of Winning Notification
(3) A Cashier Cheque of cash value US $ 1,000,000 (Issued for claims by only your Name) to the courier company,so they are in full custody of your winnings now and what is required of you now is to contact the courier company and claim your winnings.

Note: You are to note here that you have delayed your claim for couple of days now and this may lead to complications in the delivery of your winning cheque since it has been deposited for claim in the courier company within the shortest time possible.You are hereby advise to proceed with your claims immediately and adhere strictly to the courier company's instructions so as to enable them effect your delivery within the stipulated time frame.Your security is well guanranttee and remember we also have our name to protect here,so we have our anthoney and all other legal documents which has been forwarded to the courier company backing you as the legit winner of our lottery.

Hope to hear from you as soon as your winnings has been delivered to you.Also endeavour to keep me posted with your dealings with the courier company.

Congratulations once again on your winning,


Yours Faithfully,
Mr.Sean Thompson,
(DPU Information Officer).


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam