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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:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "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.
  • revwillyanderson005@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "AWARDS OFFICE BRITISH LOTTERY" <awardscontact02@mailbox.hu>
Date: Tue, 10 Jun 2008 01:58:23 +0100
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!!! YOUR EMAIL HAS WON FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND POUNDS STERLING (500,000.00 GBP)


*BRITISH INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY**

*
*DEAR LUCKY WINNER,

WE HAPPILY ANNOUNCE TO YOU THAT YOUR EMAIL IS THE LUCKY WINNER IN THE
BRITISH INTERNATIONAL EMAIL LOTTERY DRAWS HELD TODAY 9TH JUNE 2008, AT
STAMFORD BRIDGE PARK, LONDON, ENGLAND.

KINDLY FILL IN THE FOLLOWING DETAILS BELOW AND CONTACT YOUR CLAIMS AGENT
IMMEDIATELY WITH DETAILS BELOW FOR THE IMMEDIATE CLAIMS AND TRANSFER OF
YOUR PRIZE OF FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND POUNDS STERLING (500,000.00 GBP) TO YOU.
**

1. Name:
2. Address:
3. Marital Status:
4. Occupation:
5. Age:
6. Sex:
7. Nationality:
8. Country Of Residence:
9. Telephone Number (Country Code)-(Area Code)- Phone Number):
10 Cell Number: (Country Code) - (Cell Phone Number):
11. Payment Method (Swift/ Draft):
12. Email Address: *
**
*CONTACT: REV. WILLY ANDERSON
CONTACT EMAIL ADDRESS: revwillyanderson005@yahoo.co.uk
*
*
BEST REGARDS AND CONGRATULATIONS

MR. MARTIN HUDDLESTONE
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS UNIT
BRITISH INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY INC.*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam