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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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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:
  • "claims agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
• 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 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.
  • +447031950652 (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.
  • ukclaimsdept1@hotmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Murphree, Misty D" <mdmurphree9751@iccms.edu>
Date: Sun, 6 Jul 2008 01:10:09 -0500
Subject: Important: Email Account Has won




NOTE: Reply all mails to- ukclaimsdept1@hotmail.com<mailto:ukclaimsdept1@hotmail.com>

British National Lottery

FINAL WINNING NOTICE

Reference number UK/940X2/68

Dear Email Account Owner,

This message is to inform you that your email address has been selected as one of the winners
of the online version of British online promo held on 5th July 2008.Your email address is
attached to a total claim of 753,437.00 British Pounds.
accounts.

Your winnings will be issued to you as soon as our assigned claims agent
verify your winnings after you might send your details to him.

We have been sending this notice to all our winners and this is
the last notice/verification exercise.

To claim your winnings, your are to send:

Your Name : .......... .....
Your Telephone : ................
Date of Birth : .................
Country or Territory : ..........

Assigned Claims Agent: Henrick Robert
Email: ukclaimsdept1@hotmail.com<mailto:ukclaimsdept1@hotmail.com>
Phone: +447031950652, +447031970667.

Congratulations Once more from all our members of staff.
Yours Sincerely
Murphree Misty,
(online Co-ordinator)

NOTE: Reply all mails to- ukclaimsdept1@hotmail.com<mailto:ukclaimsdept1@hotmail.com>

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam