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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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• 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:

• 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:
  • ",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)
  • "00,000.00" (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 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.
  • cm-di-lo@winning.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • cmcphee-di@winning.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Helen Jones" <dynastyintl@gmail.com> (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2007 12:02:45 +0400
Subject: congratulations,you are a winner

DYNASTY INTERNATIONAL LOTTO AWARD

Dear Winner,

This is Dynasty International, a non religious and non racist organization formed to unite the human race in their religion/belief, as we believe God is one and human beings are one not withstanding your religion, race, education or political background.

Dear, you have been selected as one of our lucky winners in this our inaugural lotto awards which was organized in the spirit of Ramadan and the forth coming Christmas.

The draw was conducted via computer programmed selection system which saw your email address win in the 1st Category with the following information;
Your ticket no: DI-8923412
Serial no: 654213
Insurance no: 57025
Winning no: DI/418906
Winning amount: us$2,000,000.00(us$2 Million)

Be informed that this 2007 lottery award and payments starts on the 15th September and ends on the 31st of December, 2007.

Your are therefore advised as a matter of importance as it concerns time factor, to contact immediately the director of payments informing him of your winning with the winning details above;
Name: Clifford Mcphee
Telephone: +8821621128553
Email: cm-di-lo@winning.com <mailto:cmcphee-di@winning.com>

We wish to congratulate you over your winning as we pray that your will contribute in making the world a peaceful place for human race.

Yours truly,

Helen Jones
(Public Relation's Officer)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam