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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!
  
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• 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:
  • "million us dollars" (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)
  • ",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)
  • "international remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
  • "account opening form" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
• 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.
  • +31616293431 (Netherlands, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "postbank nlaccounts" <postbank.nlaccountss@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2007 11:07:29 +0200
Subject: POSTBANK NL, NETHERLANDS.


*www.postbank.nl* <http://www.postbank.nl/>
*Tel:+31 616 293 431.
Fax:+31 847 173 162. *

*Attention: *Wilfred Weisszer*.*

*ACCOUNT OPENNING/FUNDS TRANSFER.*

This is to acknowledgment your e-mail. We've completed our verification; we
hereby confirm the validity of the winning notification which you received
from the organizers of the Sweepstake promotion. Be informed that your
winning numbers have been verified, you have been approved to receive the
sum of $1,000, 000.00 (One Million US Dollars).
The entire member of Staff of Postbank BV wish to congratulate you for being
one of the lucky winners in last Sweepstake.

Please be informed that at the moment that your lottery prize ($1,000,000.00)
is domiciled in the Automated suspense account of (ASA) of De Nederlandsche
Bank (Bank of Netherlands (Central Bank)) according to Act 107 section 5B of
the Gaming Board law. This is to enable the bank and the organizers of this
program monitor the transfers of funds to winners to avoid double claim or
mix up on the transfer of the said lottery prize ($1,000, 000.00).

*REQUIREMENT FOR PRIZE ($1,000,000.00) TRANSFER:*

*To claim your prize ($1,000,000.00) and get it transferred from here into
your account in your country, you are requested by law (Act 107 section 5B
of the Gaming Board law) to open a non-resident account with our bank,
Postbank B.V. so that your funds ($1,000,000.00) can be transferred from De
Nederlandsche automated suspense account
into the new bank account you will open with us (Postbank B.V.), and
thereafter, your funds will be transferred to your bank account in your
country. That is the law/requirement for the transfer of your prize ($1,000,
000.00).*


For now, your prize ($1,000,000.00) will remain in the Automated Suspense
Account of De Nederlandsche Bank pending when you open a new non-resident
account with us (Postbank B.V.) for the transfer of your prize (funds) to
your account in your country.
For the purpose of the new account ( a non-resident account) for the
release/transfer of your prize from De Nederlandsche Bank, our non-resident
account opening forms have been attached to this email for your perusal;
please fill it and return same to us by email attachment or fax (+31 847 173
162). As soon as that is done, other requirements (minimum deposit)
including details of the transfer of your prize from your new account here
into your account in your country will be furnished you. With the limited
time accorded the claim/transfer of your prize ($1,000, 000.00) you are
carefully advised to print out and complete the non-resident account opening
form and send it back to us by fax or email attachment immediately.
Yours Sincerely,

*Mr. Dennis Van Kempen.
Director: International Remittance Department
Tel:+31 616 293 431.
Fax:+31 847 173 162*

* *

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam