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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery 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:
  • "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)
  • "certified bank draft" (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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: robertbrain_101@zipmail.com.br
Date: Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:10:15 +0100
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?INTEREST=20PAYMENT=20OF=20US=24800=2C000=2E00=20INTO=20YOUR=20ACCOUNT=3A?=

Media Banking
1Churchill Place
London,E14 5HP,
United Kingdom.
www.barclays.co.uk


DEAREST CUSTOMER,

RE:INTEREST PAYMENT OF US$800,000.00 INTO YOUR ACCOUNT:

I am Lilian Doore Managing Director,Corporate Service Division and Head
of swift Transfer Unit of Barclays bank London(UK).

Sometime ago,in our bank your inheritance fund was brought to our bank from
National Lotto Group here in England and after some period,the money was
taken back to their treasury.But for the period of time this money was in
our bank,it generated an interest of US$800,000.00 which we are about to
pay you Via International Certified Bank Draft through our corresponding
bank in US.(Bank of America).

For your information and advice, you need to hasten up to pick this Fund
because from time to time the National Lotto Group auditors do come to our
bank to cross-check our files and our financial update,the earlier you comply
with the demands of the delivery of the fund,the faster the action,because
when the auditors arrives and find out that this interest fund is still
in our bank they will call back the accrued interest to the lotto treasury
account.

What we need from you now is any form of your identification for example:your
International passport or your driver's license,your telephone and fax number
for easy communication to you with your mailing address where this Draft
will be delivered.As a matter of fact we dont have enough time to waste
since we have wasted time in contacting you through phone,so try and comply
with the entire necessary requirements for the transaction and contact the
office stated below.

===================================
Contact:Mr.Robert O'Brain
Email:robertbrain2@gijon.com
===================================


Note:I have attempted to call you but all effort proved abortive and
this promted me to send you a mail on this email address,which I guess
belongs to you.

Expecting your immediate response.


Yours Sincerely,
Contact:Lilian Doore(MRS).
Swift Transfer Dept(BARCLAYS BANK).

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam