419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

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.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

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:
- "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "million pounds" (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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
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.
- +447024043160 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: Chandra Garrett <cngarrett@ualr.edu>
Reply-To: nl.claimsdepartment11@hotmail.co.uk
Date: Sat, 28 Jun 2008 19:44:46 +0100
Subject: HELLO WINNER!!!!(Draw: 28-6-2008)CONTACT "Barrister David Mark" FOR
CLAIMS

National Lottery Commission=2C
2 Monck Street=2C London SW1P 2BQ
United Kingdom=2E
Ref =3A UK/776090X2/23
Batch=3A 013/05/8394369
National Draw=3A 28-6-2008
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D

WINNING DRAW NUMBER=3A 8=2C11=2C21=2C32=2C35=2C42=2C47
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
WINNING NOTIFICATION=3A

=A0 We happily announce to you the Draw (=23942) of the UK NATIONAL
LOTTERY=2Conline UK National Lottery program held on Wednesday 28 JUNE
=A02008
=A0Your e-mail address attached to Ticket Number=3A8603775966738
with Serial number 5368/02 drew the Winning Numbers=3A
8=2C11=2C21=2C32=2C35=2C42=2C (bonus=2E 47)=2Cwhich subsequently won you=
the lottery
in the 2nd category i=2Ee match 3plus bonus=2E
=A0 You are therefore been approved to claim total sum of =A31=2C628=2C3=
60=2E00
(One Million Six Hundred And Twenty Eight Thousand Three Hundred
And Sixty Million Pounds) in cash credited to file=2EThis is from a
total cash prize of =A320=2C350=2C000=2E00 pounds=2Cshared amongst the W=
inners
with different amount won in this category i=2Ee Match 3 plus bonus=2E
All participants for the online version were selected randomly from
World Wide Web sites through computer draw system and extracted from
over 100=2C000 unions=2Cassociations=2C and corporate bodies that are
listed online=2E
=A0 This promotion takes place weekly=2E

Please contact our Fiduciary Agent for VALIDATION=2E
*******************************************************************
Barrister David MARK=2E
Foreign Services Manager=2C Payment and Release order
Department=2CCLAIMS PROCESSING LOTTERY AGENT=2E
TRANS-ATLANTIC S=2EA LONDON=2C UNITED KINGDOM
=A0Tel Phone=3A+447024043160
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 +447045783368
=A0 E-mail=3A=A0 nl-claimsdepartment=40hotmail=2Eco=2Euk
=A0 E-mail=3A=A0 nl-claimsdepartment=40hotmail=2Eco=2Euk

********************************************************************
=A0 Endeavour to email him your full names=2Cwinning numbers=2Cemail
address=2Ctelephone and fax numbers immediately=2E
Congratulations from me and members of staff of THE UK NATIONAL
LOTTERY=2E

Mrs=2E Rose Wood=2C
Winning Department=2C
CordinatorUK National Lottery=2E
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
Material Copyright =A9 2008 The Lottery Co=2E Ltd=2E
The Lottery Company=A0 is in no way affiliated with=2C
associated with or approved or endorsed by Camelot Group plc=2E
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D

=

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam