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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:
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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:

• 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:
  • "from: the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "your payment is being processed" (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)
  • "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "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 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.
  • tnelson2001@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Roger Johnson <shellclaims@helloworld.com>
Date: Sun, 30 Mar 2008 10:50:00 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS 2008 SHELL PETROLEUM WINNER !!




SHELL PETROLEUM INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY PROMO NIGERIA
FROM: THE DESK OF THE PROMOTIONS MANAGER.
PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT
REF NUMBER: 73284-294-1093
BATCH NO: MELPUK-0385-SHI

We Apologies, for the delay of your payment and all the Inconveniences and
Inflict that we might have indulge you though.However, we were having
some minor problems with our payment system,which is Inexplicable,and have
held us stranded and Indolent, not having the Aspiration to devote our 100%
Assiduity in accrediting foreign payments.

Emails were selected anonymously through a computer ballot system from
over 35,000 companies and 70,000 individual e-mail addresses alloverthe
world and your e-mail address emerged as the winner of the 11 selected
email address. It is promoted and sponsored by Orient software corporation
(Orient Networks) in collaboration with ONLINE SHELL PETROLEUM
INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY PROMO NIGERIA.

I wish to inform you now that the square peg is now in square whole and can
be vanguish for that your payment is being processed and will be released
to you as soon as you respond to this letter.
Also note that from our record in our file, your outstanding winning
payment is US$950.215.00 (NINE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND,TWO HUNDRED AND
FIFTEEN DOLLARS).Payment will be made to you in a certified bank draft or
wire transfer into a nominated bank account of your choice.

I want You to contact the Claims Processing Officer to know when your
US$950.215.00 will deliver to you. I have paid for the delivering
charges.The only money you have to send to them is the security keeping
fee of your consignment which is which is ($155.00 US Dollars) to
receiveyour package. Our Corresponding Bank will deliver it to you on
C.O.D so this security keeping fee $155.00 Us Dollars is the only money
you have to send to them, as soon as you get in touched with him.

Claims Processing Officer
Mr. Tom Nelson
E-mail: tnelson2001@gmail.com

Your urgent reply to Mr. Tom Nelson will effect the speedy release of your
cash prize to you.

Provide him with the following details as soon as possible to avoid
increasing the insurance fee. I gave them your delivering address but you
have to reconfirm it to them again to avoid any mistake on the delivering.
Reconfirm below information to the company to enable Them process the
release of your cash prize without any delay within 48 hours.

Your Full Name:....................................

Telephone and fax Numbers:.........................

Residential Address:...............................

Occupation............................................

Sincerely,
Mrs. Patricia Stapleton
Vice President.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam