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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "uk national lottery" (can only win this lottery if you bought a ticket)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "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. )
  • "claims office" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "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!
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • +447011138636 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +447011147347 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• 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.
  • mrkrichards_fedexpress@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: "Barrister Brian D. Smith" <bd_smith1978@live.com>
Date: Tue, 19 Feb 2008 16:15:35 +0000
Subject: The British Online Lottery//Fiduciary Update






THE UK NATIONAL LOTTERY P O Box 1010,
Liverpool, L70 1NLUNITED KINGDOM.
Ref:UK/9420X2/68Batch:074/05/ZY369Date:19/02/2008

CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT

Dear winner, I am in receipt of your mail and I must say that you should count yourself extremely lucky to have emerged as one of our winners in this year's lucky dip sweepstakes.

You are been approved to claim a total sum of ?502,000,00 (Five hundred and two thousand pounds sterling) in cash credited to file XYL/26510460037/04. Your particulars have been documented for record purposes.






I want you to understand that your winning fund of 502,000.00 pounds was issued out in cheque along side with other vital documents which will enable you to clear the cheque in any bank world wide, however, I want you to understand that the cheque and documents is currently with the FedEx Express:

Contact FedEx express with the details below:

******************************************************************************


Company Name: FedEx express
Dispatch Agent: Mr. Kenny Richards
For Enquiries Please Call;
(Tel: (+44)-701-114-7347
( Tel: (+44)-702-407-2008
Fax: (+44)-870-471-9222


Email:mrkrichards_fedexpress@yahoo.co.uk
*****************************************************************************

The FedEx Express is responsible for sending your prize to you. Please oblige to follow their instructions so the document can be delivered to your designated address in time. Endeavour to make your winning information confidential until it has been sucessfully delivered to you, to avoid double claims.

The documents in the parcel are;

1. WINNING CERTIFICATE FROM THE UK LOTTERY2.WINNERS CHEQUE / CASH AMOUNT FOR THE VALUE OF 502,00.00 POUNDS3.CLEAR SOURCE OF FUNDS CERTIFICATES (C.S.F.C.);

We look forward to receiving your correspondence with the FedEx Express.

If there be any further query, do not hesitate to let me know about it.
Congratulations!.
Regards,

Barrister Brian D. Smith
(Tel: :+44-701-113-8636

Claims Officer(UKL)
UK NATIONAL LOTTERY
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam